More than $600,000 worth of counterfeit Lighting cables were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a routine customs search in Anchorage, Alaska (via 9to5Mac). The cables had arrived from China via plane and were designed to look like Apple's $19 Lightning to USB cables, complete with fake Apple logos and UL icons.

MD818

But the knock-off logos weren't enough of a disguise. The items stood out as counterfeits, Frank Falcon, CBP spokesman said. They were packaged for retail sale in cardboard blister packs that were sub-standard compared to Apple's trademark white packaging.

Falcon said a manufacturer in China is responsible for the shipment. He noted that while it is “difficult to deal with a manufacturer in another country,” the bust will “bring more scrutiny” to future shipments from the company.

This is a large bust for such products. As one can imagine, over $600,000 in cables and adaptors means there was “quite a bit of stuff” seized, Falcon said.

Apple products are frequently counterfeited, and even Apple's retail stores are sometimes knocked off.

Top Rated Comments

rshanahan Avatar
162 months ago
Good.

It amazes me that there are companies in China that have factories dedicated to counterfeiting. Use those resources to make some legit products!

Agree, just make a good $5 cable and leave the apple logo off!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
162 months ago
The fact these guys can beat apple for price by so much proves apple deserve to be counterfeited

GITSUM!
Another genius who doesn't understand the costs associated with R&D and developing IP.

I'd bet you think you're underpaid, also...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yvan256 Avatar
162 months ago
600 000$ / 19$ = 31 578 cables.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
162 months ago
The fact these guys can beat apple for price by so much proves apple deserve to be counterfeited

GITSUM!

These counterfeits aren't exact copies. They generally are much cheaper quality and fall apart quickly. Many of them will fit in either way but only charge with the adaptor pointed in 1 way unlike the real Apple cables.

Also, I have yet to see a single 3rd party cable (other than Apple authorized ones) that will do video. All of them so far will only charge and do sync (many only charge and don't even sync).

On top of that it's obvious that you don't understand the costs of development and other things that go into creating a product.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CocoaPuffs Avatar
162 months ago
Does this mean my $5 OEM cable from eBay ain't coming anymore?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brian Y Avatar
162 months ago
utter garbage no cable costs that much

GARBAGE!

gitsum!

----------



30 dollars for a cable lol at you

So you could develop a omnidirectional, waterproof, usb 2/3 (future) compatible connector with the same connection quality, cable build quality for less than Apple?

Go for it. I hear the MicroUSB 3 guys could do with some help in that department looking at this monstrosity:

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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