Fake iPads Made of Clay Sold in Canadian Stores

Fake iPads made of clay were sold to as many as 10 people in Vancouver, Canada, CTV News reports. The fake iPads were sold at Best Buy and Future Shop, after scam artists bought a real iPad with cash, and replaced the device with modeling clay.

The scammers then brought the fake iPad back to the store and returned it for a full refund. Future Shop and Best Buy put the returned devices directly back onto the shelf, where other customers bought it. Mark Sandhu bought his wife, Sundeep, what he thought was an iPad 2 for Christmas. Instead, they both got a surprise when they opened the box.

I look at him and I'm kind of in shock, 'Like what -- is this a joke? Sundeep Randhawa told CTV News.

Sandhu said that when he tried to return the fake iPad, he was treated like a criminal. [The manager] made me feel like I'm trying to scam them out of $700. I was the one getting scammed, he said.

Sandhu got no response when he contacted Future Shops head office, Apple, or the police about the fake iPad. However when he contacted the media, Future Shop apologized and issued him a full refund and a real iPad.

Customers don't expect to receive this kind of product from Future Shop, so it's a very serious matter and something we are addressing right away for anyone who has been impacted, spokesperson Elliott Chun told CTV News. It really saddens Future Shop that people stoop to be this opportunistic and make money is this kind of organized way.