A town centre shopper has warned others to watch out for scammers selling fake iPhones after falling victim to one.

Rick Guedes contacted this newspaper after being caught out by a stranger who offered him a seemingly genuine product that was actually counterfeit.

While looking for a new phone for his mother in late February, Rick was approached and stopped by a man who offered him an iPhone 15 Pro Max for £450.

After being initially apprehensive, Rick was eventually convinced after being shown seemingly falsified evidence 'proving' it was legitimate. 

He said: “Of course, this is too good to be true, so I asked for proof of purchase and he said it was a gift.

“Then, he showed us a reference number on the official Apple website and it came up as an official device.

“Plus, it looked very legit and it was wrapped and sealed just like the real thing, so we took the bait.”

After haggling the price down to £300, he later realised that the mobile was not genuine.

During his next trip into town, he saw someone else approaching another unsuspecting potential victim with the same offer speaking in a similar accent to the person who scammed him.

He added: “There’s a few of them operating in town and scamming people for fake iPhones.

“I want to report this problem that I noticed in Swindon but haven’t seen anyone talk about.

“It’s something that everyone should know about, so they are safe when going out in Swindon.”

Wiltshire Police and Action Fraud offer advice to help people avoid buying fake goods that are sold as authentic.

An Action Fraud spokesperson said: “Check the quality and labels first. It’s easy to spot a fake as their labels have spelling mistakes or other distinguishing marks.

“Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re getting a great deal.

“Get the trader to tell you if they provide an after-sales service, warranty or guarantee. Most rogue traders don’t.

“Many counterfeit goods are sold at car boot sales, pubs, markets or fairs. This makes it difficult to trace the seller.

“If you buy counterfeit goods, you’re helping the trader to break the law. The money you’ve spent ends up funding organised crime.

“You’re also contributing to job losses because genuine manufacturers are unable to match prices charged by rogue traders.

“Worst of all, you’re putting yourself at risk. Some counterfeits can be dangerous to use and in some cases are made using toxic substances.”

Report fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.