1 Million Fake Handsets Sold Every Month
Bharti Adhikari, Sep 26, 2008 1537 hrs IST
Fake handsets also a weapon of choice for terrorists
Beware of paying a handsome amount for a new mobile phone: you might just get be getting duped with a fake.
Over one million fake handsets are being sold in India every month and branded mobile makers such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung, could be losing as much as a whopping Rs. 400 crore to the duplicates, reports Economic Times (ET).
This translates into an annual loss of over Rs 4,800 crore, nearly a billion dollars, and the number is growing by the day. The market share of handset vendors is also adversely affected due to these duplicate devices.
Indian markets are flooded with fake mobile phones that carry brand names, design and looks that are virtually indistinguishable (to the un-geek eye) from the originals. These fake handsets are so similar to the original that a lay man can't make out the difference by just looking at one. What is even more shocking to know is that these fake handsets are not just sold in local shops but also by retail chains discreetly, and are being sourced from China and Taiwan.
The only different between the original and the fake handsets is the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number. Every original handset has a unique IMEI number, while the fake ones don't. They don't even have the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) hologram.
Moreover, in addition to duping people, the China handsets are being increasingly used as tools of terrorism. Terrorists are using them for communicating with other members because call transactions cannot be traced and can be discarded easily.
After the series of blast that rocked various cities in India, the Intelligence Bureau has demanded ban on such handsets in the country.
Source: Economic Times
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People who sell such sets must be put behind bars. There is ample proof of such transactionsas no body takes a phone without a bill and guarantee papers. The companies duty is to catch hold of such people and start legal proceedings.
by Madan Vashishta, Post Dehlan District Una Himachal pardesh 174306, on Sep 28, 2008 07:37 AM, Report abuse Reply