Britain is still reeling from the recent riots and looting that shook the country. Many of the perpetrators have already been through the courts and are now serving their time in prison, but there is evidence that suggests some of them have escaped justice and are now trying to sell their stolen wares online.
eBay, the UK's biggest online auction site, claims it has seen no unusual activity, but confirmed it will be keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour in the coming weeks and cooperating with authorities to identity and remove dodgy listings where appropriate. The company also released a statement expressing sympathy with the communities and businesses affected by this unexpected wave of criminality and unrest on Britain's streets.
The number of iPhone 3GS handsets listed on eBay went up from a few dozen before the riots to 150 afterwards, and the same pattern has been observed on other online auction sites. This has led many to conclude that stolen goods are being sold online.
Consumers have been advised to be vigilant towards this possibility by the Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum, who have warned that people may be tricked into buying looted items without realising.
Purchasing a stolen phone online could land you in trouble with police. If that doesn't happen, there's a good chance the phone will be disabled by the service operator, making it useless. The safest bet is to buy a phone from a reputable, established source. If you wish to check the history of a smartphone, you can now do so by inputting the IMEI or serial number at Checkmend.com.
If a seller doesn't provide the serial number for a phone upon request, this is a good indication that they are hiding something. Buyers should steer clear of any sellers that refuse to part with this information. If you do buy a phone through an online auction site, using a credit card or a service like PayPal means that you will be able to claim a refund if it transpires that the phone was stolen.
eBay, the UK's biggest online auction site, claims it has seen no unusual activity, but confirmed it will be keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour in the coming weeks and cooperating with authorities to identity and remove dodgy listings where appropriate. The company also released a statement expressing sympathy with the communities and businesses affected by this unexpected wave of criminality and unrest on Britain's streets.
The number of iPhone 3GS handsets listed on eBay went up from a few dozen before the riots to 150 afterwards, and the same pattern has been observed on other online auction sites. This has led many to conclude that stolen goods are being sold online.
Consumers have been advised to be vigilant towards this possibility by the Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum, who have warned that people may be tricked into buying looted items without realising.
Purchasing a stolen phone online could land you in trouble with police. If that doesn't happen, there's a good chance the phone will be disabled by the service operator, making it useless. The safest bet is to buy a phone from a reputable, established source. If you wish to check the history of a smartphone, you can now do so by inputting the IMEI or serial number at Checkmend.com.
If a seller doesn't provide the serial number for a phone upon request, this is a good indication that they are hiding something. Buyers should steer clear of any sellers that refuse to part with this information. If you do buy a phone through an online auction site, using a credit card or a service like PayPal means that you will be able to claim a refund if it transpires that the phone was stolen.
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