Shopee Buyer Shockingly Receives Bioderm Instead of iPhone 17 Pro Max

A recent post on Reddit claims a buyer in the Philippines ordered an iPhone 17 Pro Max from the “Apple Flagship Store” in Shopee but when the package arrived, the sealed box contained only bars of Bioderm instead of the phone.

Reports say the parcel arrived with intact seals and waybill, giving no obvious sign of tampering. The buyer immediately filed for a refund, but as of the post, no resolution had been announced.

This incident comes amid a global surge of scams tied to the hype around the iPhone 17 launch. Experts from Kaspersky warn consumers to beware of fake listings, bogus pre‑orders, and bait‑and‑switch schemes selling counterfeit or empty packages.

For shoppers buying high‑value electronics online, this is yet another warning to proceed with caution. Document unboxings (waybill, outer packaging, seal, contents) and — when possible — buy directly from authorized retailers.