In a country so enamored with brand recognition that it treats owning the latest iPhone like it's a requirement, It should surprise no one that Apple's slightly average overpriced status symbol shaped like a smartphone is the target of more scamming and counterfeiting in China than a Loui Vuitton purse in a third-world country. Among the title waves of stories about Apple being tricked into making fake iPhones real, to Apple stores in the region being such a perfect replica that even their own employees didn't know they were fake, This story is a little bit different.
Apparently, real --licensed-- Apple employees in China were caught selling the personal information of customers to third-parties.
22 people were arrested in southern Zhejiang province in the region for allegedly selling the personal information of customers, with at least 20 of whom being Apple employees. The suspects allegedly used Apple's own network to access things like Apple IDs, names, addresses and possibly credit card information to be sold elsewhere.
The information was sold allegedly for up to $26.50 for each.
Apple is basically pleading the 5th on this issue, (because Apple ain't no snitch,) declining to make any statement to the press on the matter. They are, however, urging people who believe they are effected by this leak of personal data to contact Apple directly, or local law enforcement.
There is no word on whether the leaked information targeted users outside of China, however. Softpedia speculates that the leak was likely limited only to the surrounding cities in the immediate area.
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