FedEx Data Scraping and Telecom Insider Bribes Powered Nationwide iPhone Theft Operation (wsj.com)
(Wednesday March 19, 2025 @12:00PM (msmash)
from the how-about-that dept.)
- Reference: 0176769213
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/03/19/0927253/fedex-data-scraping-and-telecom-insider-bribes-powered-nationwide-iphone-theft-operation
- Source link: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/how-bribes-helped-a-crime-ring-steal-thousands-of-iphones-from-porches-8d9f02f1
Federal authorities have broken up an international crime ring that [1]stole thousands of iPhones from porches nationwide
The thieves created software to scrape FedEx tracking numbers and paid AT&T store employees to provide customer order details and delivery addresses, according to WSJ, which cites prosecutors. Armed with this information, runners intercepted packages at doorsteps moments after delivery.
Demetrio Reyes Martinez, known online as "CookieNerd," developed code that circumvented FedEx limits on delivery-data requests, while AT&T employee Alejandro Then Castillo used his credentials to track hundreds of shipments and reportedly received up to $2,500 for recruiting other employees. Stolen devices were funneled through Wyckoff Wireless in Brooklyn, a store owned by Joel Suriel, who was already on supervised release from a previous wire-fraud conviction. The merchandise was then shipped overseas for sale and activation.
[1] https://www.wsj.com/us-news/how-bribes-helped-a-crime-ring-steal-thousands-of-iphones-from-porches-8d9f02f1
[2] https://www.msn.com/en-us/general/general/how-bribes-helped-a-crime-ring-steal-thousands-of-iphones-from-porches/ar-AA1B9QK7
[2]non-paywalled link
, arresting 13 people last month after a sophisticated operation that combined high-tech tools with old-fashioned bribery.The thieves created software to scrape FedEx tracking numbers and paid AT&T store employees to provide customer order details and delivery addresses, according to WSJ, which cites prosecutors. Armed with this information, runners intercepted packages at doorsteps moments after delivery.
Demetrio Reyes Martinez, known online as "CookieNerd," developed code that circumvented FedEx limits on delivery-data requests, while AT&T employee Alejandro Then Castillo used his credentials to track hundreds of shipments and reportedly received up to $2,500 for recruiting other employees. Stolen devices were funneled through Wyckoff Wireless in Brooklyn, a store owned by Joel Suriel, who was already on supervised release from a previous wire-fraud conviction. The merchandise was then shipped overseas for sale and activation.
[1] https://www.wsj.com/us-news/how-bribes-helped-a-crime-ring-steal-thousands-of-iphones-from-porches-8d9f02f1
[2] https://www.msn.com/en-us/general/general/how-bribes-helped-a-crime-ring-steal-thousands-of-iphones-from-porches/ar-AA1B9QK7
stolen phones (Score:3)
Isn't it pretty easy to track these phones since they all have unique serials and other unique identifiers? If the customer never gets the phone shouldn't then the stock be marked as lost/stolen so that it cannot be used/activated again and essentially become e-waste or at best be parted out?
Re: (Score:2)
You're assuming that everyone gives personal information when buying a phone. I would never do that in a million years.
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FTFA: "The stolen devices were then shipped overseas for sale and activation abroad, according to the complaint."
So... they were shipping them overseas. Can't really block it from the network if it's not on your network...
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Apple would know though
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That's what I logged in to ask... what's the point of a scheme like this when blocking exists?
A couple of years ago I ordered a iPhone & case from T-Mobile, and one day a signature required box showed up with just the case in site. Upon investigation by T-Mobile & FedEx, it was found the box was light from the original warehouse, so someone must have screwed up and not put the phone in the box... but had scanned it as linked to my account. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I get an email noting tha
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Yes, if Apple had a financial incentive to block stolen iPhones.
Look, the people buying stolen iPhones were never going to buy a retail iPhone anyway, so they weren't an Apple customer. The fact that they now have an iPhone means that, maybe in the future, they'll be stuck in the ecosystem and start buying legitimate phones.
The people who get phones stolen from another new iPhone - either they, the delivery company, or the seller will do so - so Apple isn't out any money as a result of the theft.
So, if App
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Apple also ships phones to customers directly and would either self-insure or pay fedex in who might raise rates
Even if the carrier is shipping they may reduce the offers on iphones to cover the loss, and that money from the customer's pocket is money that apple can no longer bilk out of them.