Imposter Apples

Chinese officials are taking a bite out of crime; and it tastes like a rotten apple.

So far five fake apple stores have been located in the southwestern city of Kumming. Two of them have been ordered to shut down and suspend business while they are investigated. Police say they can’t do anything about the other three because they weren’t trying to sell fake apple products.

The discovery comes after an American woman stumbled across one of the fake stores. She took pictures of the store and posted them on her blog. She wrote that they had incorporated every detail of the real Apple stores; including the blue t-shirts employees wear. After that blog appeared more than 300 electronic stores were investigated and the other fake apple spots were found.

Apple says they only have four retail locations in china. Two in Beijing and two in Shanghai; their products are also sold at a number of official retailers. China’s government says this is just part of the problem it’s facing with piracy and counterfeit goods. And Apple is not alone. Private Investigator Nick Montano, who busts product counterfeiters for legitimate companies worldwide, says he’s never been busier.