If you haven’t been able to snag Apple’s most in-demand new handset, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you may have the combination of bots and scalpers to blame for this.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, which has proven to be a hit, has reached a point where demand has outsold the available supply, leading to lead times that have hit historic levels around the world. Per security and anti-bot company Kasada, scalpers are automating their purchasing of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in order to capitalize on the demand.
Kasada’s report is a sales tool to get firms to buy its anti-bot services, and it tends toward hyperbole. For instance, it claims that “most of the population wanting to pre-order is at a severe disadvantage in ordering a new iPhone without the use of a bot.”
The report capitalizes all-in-one (AIO) bots as capitalizing on demand. Describing it as “an AIO bot notorious for sniping electronics,” a screenshot shows a recommendation for buying the iPhone 15.
“The expected profit made by scaling one of the Pro models is estimated at $300 each,” says Kasada. “Given Apple’s flexible return policy, there’s little risk of being stuck with the device so scalpers see this opportunity for profit as a risk-free return.”
Another example provided by Kasada shows that a bot made over 3,000 checkouts, or orders, of the iPhone 15 range of devices.
This one claims 3,000 successful checkouts,” says Kasada, “setting expectations of shipment within the first week of its launch date. These scalpers can expect to make nearly $1,000,000 from this sale.”
Kasada has also claimed to have witnessed individuals writing their own bots specifically to order the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
“In addition to abusing Apple’s website for pre-ordering, Kasada is also observing bots being used to abuse the wireless providers that sell their locked versions of the iPhone 15,” continued the company.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and kasada.com