Booming Demand? Scalpers Used Bots To Place Thousands Of iPhone 15 Pre-Orders, Report Says

The recently launched iPhone 15 and its iPhone 15 Pro Max variant have been met with a surge in bot activity during their pre-order phase.

What Happened: Cybersecurity research firm Kasada reported that bots were used to place thousands of pre-orders for the newly unveiled iPhone 15 models, reminiscent of the bot surge witnessed during the sale of Taylor Swift tickets and PlayStation 5 consoles last holiday season.

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Most of these bots are linked to All-In-One (AIO) services, infamous for scalping popular electronics and sneakers. For instance, one bot, known for reselling electronics and GPUs, has switched its focus to the iPhone 15 with an estimated profit of $300 per device.

Another AIO bot claimed to have secured nearly 2,500 iPhone 15 devices from the iPhone 15 pre-orders organized by Apple Inc. AAPL, fetching potential profits of approximately $750,000 for scalpers using this bot.

Individual users have also developed their own bots for the pre-orders, putting general consumers at a significant disadvantage. The firm added that bots are also being used to exploit wireless providers selling locked versions of the iPhone 15.

Despite the immediate profit for retailers, Kasada cautioned that this could lead to increased operational costs and damage to brand reputation. The cybersecurity firm suggested a dynamic strategy to counteract bot activity.

Why It Matters: The iPhone 15 and its variant have witnessed a mixed response since their launch. Early adopters have raised concerns about discoloration and overheating issues, while YouTuber JerryRigEverything praised the new titanium design.

Furthermore, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max failed a bend test, the more affordable iPhone 15 and 15 Plus passed it, adding another dimension to the consumer decision-making process. The bot activity in pre-orders adds a new layer of complexity to the overall consumer experience.

Image Source – Apple

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