By Chris Chang, posted Jan 23, 2010 at 1:53 AM, 1,520 views,

Apple Banned Fake iPhones in China

Holy crap. The biggest workshop who produces fake iPhones is closed down and thousands of iPhone wannabes are confiscated for investigation by the Chinese government and Apple Inc. officials.

While fake iPhones are selling everywhere in Shenzhen, Apple is finally starting to take China and the black market seriously. A workshop who’s responsible on producing fake iPhones is closed down due to illegal manufacturing of the devices in the city. Over thousands of fake iPhones and third-party batteries were confiscated. Meanwhile, 28 workers were arrested for the procurement of parts and assembling the knockoffs. The cost for each phone is $500 RMB (about $73). It is known that Apple’s market surveillance department has sent staff to Shenzhen to take note of the situation.

Apple is sending staff to Shenzhen to learn more about the case and could possibly meet the press Thursday, an Apple staff member surnamed Xiao, who is with Apple’s market surveillance department in southern China, said yesterday.

The confiscated stuff is said to be worth of $500,000 RMB in total. [Hong Kong Apple Daily]