Apple Deploys In‑Box iPhone Scanners to Curb Return Fraud

Overview

• The devices, which began arriving in October, are being brought online at Apple Stores, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and subsequent reports.
• The scanners reuse Apple’s Presto approach to run diagnostics on iPhones while they remain inside unopened retail packaging.
• If a sealed phone passes the scan, staff can keep the box sealed and return the unit to store inventory instead of routing it to a warehouse for processing.
• Reporting notes Apple has not issued a public confirmation and there are questions about the scanners’ accuracy and the risk of false positives that could wrongly reject legitimate returns.
• The change aims to spare customers the public box‑opening process, cut lost sellable inventory and slow component resale schemes, but it will put pressure on training and verification during the busy holiday period.