Hacked The Escobar Phone and Imaginary Flamethrowers
Aug 2, 2025
Discover the bizarre antics of a Swedish entrepreneur who capitalized on Pablo Escobar's notorious name to sell fake smartphones and flamethrowers. The podcast dives into the extravagant marketing schemes and the legal fallout from the $1.3 million fraud. Get insights into how influencer culture fueled the scam and the complex web of online deception. From cybersecurity threats to the unique challenges faced by tech giants like DJI, this discussion reveals the darker side of modern marketing and technology.
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MKBHD Exposes Fake Escobar Phone
- Marques MKBHD exposed the fake Escobar Fold phone when he showed the Samsung logo under a gold decal.
- This early tech review helped reveal the scam's deceptive marketing using influencer promotion.
Publicity Stunts Fuel Scam Demand
- Gustafsson used outrageous publicity stunts leveraging the Escobar name to boost fake product sales.
- They sent crudely made samples to influencers to increase demand despite not manufacturing actual products.
Fake Shipments Block Refunds
- Shipping fake certificates instead of products tricked payment processors into denying refunds.
- This mail fraud tactic stalled chargebacks and concealed the scam's true nature from customers.