In a large-scale fraud operation in Iran, con artists swindled individuals out of a total of $35 million by offering iPhones at half their market price, leveraging endorsements from well-known celebrities. Apple itself does not conduct direct sales in Iran due to US sanctions, leading to a market where iPhones are imported by local businesses, either individually or in bulk. The Tehran-based Kourosh Company, led by Amir Hossein Sharifian, claimed it could sell iPhones for as low as $700, drawing customers with the promise of significant discounts.
The scheme, reported by the Financial Times, involved celebrities to boost its credibility, enticing customers to place orders with a 45-day delivery promise—a promise that was never fulfilled. The fallout from this scam has led to public protests at Tehran's police headquarters, calling for action against the company and its owner. Sharifian reportedly left Iran months before the protests began, but Iranian police have recently stated they have located him and plan to extradite him back to Iran through Interpol's assistance.
Despite Sharifian's claim that he owes approximately $2.7 million to his clients, the amount involved in the scam is a fraction of the estimated $1 billion worth of iPhones imported into Iran over the past 10 months. iPhone buyers in Iran not only face the challenge of acquiring the devices but also have to navigate restrictions on Apple services in the region.