The recent expose of the Cisco Scam sheds light on the deceptive practices employed by cybercriminals targeting unsuspecting individuals and organizations. This revelation underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity vigilance and awareness in safeguarding against such scams.
Counterfeit Cisco Scam Exposed
A CEO based in Florida has been arrested and charged with selling approximately $1 billion worth of counterfeit Cisco equipment that was imported from China, as per the Department of Justice’s statement.
The arrest of Onur Aksoy, aged 38, was announced by the Department of Justice, indicating that he is accused of operating several storefronts that distributed counterfeit Cisco hardware. It’s alleged that Aksoy procured the fake equipment from China and then resold it to various entities, including hospitals, schools, government agencies, and the military, under the guise of his company “Pro Network” in order to present an appearance of legitimacy.
According to a complaint filed by the DOJ in 2013, Aksoy purchased counterfeit hardware at a significantly lower cost, around “95 to 98%,” compared to authentic Cisco products. The counterfeit equipment had a tendency to malfunction, leading to damage to the users’ networks and operations, incurring significant financial losses often amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.
Aksoy purportedly managed a network of at least 19 companies established in New Jersey and Florida, alongside over 15 Amazon storefronts, more than 10 eBay storefronts, and various other entities.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized around 180 shipments of counterfeit Cisco devices destined for Pro Network between 2014 and 2022. In an effort to evade detection, Aksoy used the alias “Dave Durden” to submit false paperwork to CBP. In July 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Aksoy’s warehouse, where they confiscated 1,156 counterfeit Cisco hardware units valued at over $7 million.
In response to the situation, Cisco provided a statement to PC Mag, expressing its gratitude to law enforcement and customs officials for their collaborative efforts in the investigation and to the DOJ for ensuring the perpetrator is held accountable.
The charges against Aksoy encompass conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, mail and wire fraud, multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, and trafficking in counterfeit goods. A website has been established by prosecutors for individuals who believe they may have been victims of Aksoy’s operations.
To protect ourselves from such schemes:
- Always buy from authorized partners.
- Cisco has been implementing measures to counter counterfeit devices, such as secure boot, digitally signed software images, hardware trust anchors, and Secure Unique Device Identifier.
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If you have any inquiries or require further information about our partnership with Cisco and the solutions we offer, please feel free to reach out to us. Your trust is paramount to us, and we are committed to delivering the best in networking technology.
For those affected by Aksoy’s operation, information is available at justice
