Scammer Scams Apple out of 9,000+ iPod Shuffles Tries to Sell, Gets Caught

According to news surfacing over the weekend a scammer who managed to
secure more than 9,000 iPod Shuffle's directly from Apple by filling
bogus replacement requests for non-existent Shuffles using valid serial
numbers has been apprehended due to using an invalid credit card as
security.

MSN reports that Nicholas Woodhams from Grand Rapids, Michigan allegedly
managed to obtain more than 9,000 iPod Shuffles from Apple having filed
thousands of replacement requests for fictional Shuffles using valid
serial number whilst offering up the credit card in question as security
whilst promising Apple that each faulty (non-existent) Shuffle would be
returned to them.

Through trial and error, the defendant determined that he could guess
valid, warranted serial numbers and enter them into Apple's Web site for
'replacement' units without ever in fact purchasing or possessing the
'original' units, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler. On an
almost daily basis during the course of the scheme, the defendant
compiled lists of manufactured or 'guessed' Shuffle serial numbers that
would be accepted by Apple's Web site and dispatched them to part-time
employees by hand or e-mail.

According reports, Woodhams allegedly began selling the replacement
Shuffle's obtained from Apple for around $49 each but was eventually
caught thanks to the credit card used as security being invalid and is
now facing fraud and money laundering charges with the feds additionally
now looking to seize his 2004 Audi, drag racer and over a purported
$571,000 in cash.