SA woman jailed for using fraudulent docs to get iPhone 17 Pro Max contract

A 50-year-old woman from the North West province has been sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment after she used fraudulent documents to purchase an iPhone 17 Pro Max on contract last year.

The device is worth around R38 000.

SA WOMAN JAILED OVER FAKE DOCS TO SECURE IPHONE 17 PRO MAX 

On Monday, North West woman Lynda Elize Schneider was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at the Vryburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court relating to a 2025 incident in which she used fraudulent documents to secure an iPhone 17 Pro Max on contract.

Schneider was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for fraud and three years for contravening the Identity Act. The sentences will run concurrently.

In July 2025, Schneider submitted fraudulent identity documents and a bank statement to a retail store in Schweizer-Reneke, North West, intending to get the Apple device on contract. At the time, the iPhone 17 Pro Max had just been released on the market.

The documents were accepted, and the 50-year-old received her device.

However, the sequence of events was investigated by the North West Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, leading to Schneider’s conviction and sentence.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Kelebogile Morake said, “A diligent investigation by the police resulted in the accused being brought before the court, where she pleaded guilty and was convicted on both charges”.

Interestingly, the court also declared Schneider unfit to possess a firearm.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST IN CASH AND ON CONTACT

An iPhone 17 Pro Max 1TB can retail from R38 000 for a cash sale at the iStore.

Depending on the service provider, the same device on contract is listed on contract for:

• R1,599 per month × 36 months = R57,564.

Approval is subject to the network or retailer’s affordability assessment and credit checks.