DA: Man profited thousands of dollars in fraudulent iPhone sales

An East Meadow online businessman was arrested on June 16 for failing to ship more than $100,000 worth of iPhones to a customer in Hong Kong, even after receiving the payment, according to to District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Hardeep Singh, 29, owns the Internet business, North Indian Trading Company, LLC.

According to Singas, he has been doing business under this company name, which also goes by Infinite Products LLC, from the basement of his parents home.

Singas alleges that in February 2014, the victim, who lives in Hong Kong, negotiated the purchase from Singh of 250 iPhone 5S “Factory Unlocked 16GB Grey” at a unit price of $450 each, plus shipping and handling.

On or about March 5, 2014, Singas continued, Singh received the victim’s full payment of more than $100,000 by wire transfer. Although Singh confirmed his receipt of the money and confirmed shipment of the products, Singh never shipped any of the iPhones the victim ordered.

Singas said an investigation also revealed that Singh had never purchased the promised merchandise in order to fulfill the order.

Singh is charged with two counts of second-degree grand larceny, a C-felony. If convicted, he faces five to 15 years in prison.

A spokesman for the district attorney's office said Singh was represented by Legal Aid Society at his arraignment on June 8, which does not comment on cases.

“Whether you are in Nassau, or thousands of miles away in Hong Kong, everyone using the Internet is a potential target for online scammers looking for an opportunity to steal,” said Singas in a press release. “When it comes to online scams, crime knows no border.”