Convicted Felon Reveals How He Raked In $300k From Stealing Just iPhones

A convicted felon is telling the whole story of how he raked in around $300k, and it starts with something way too ordinary: a stranger, a bar, and a phone handed over like it’s no big deal. He’d slide into the moment with a friendly act, promising to add them on Snapchat or claiming he was a rapper looking to connect, and then the victims would hand over their iPhones.

But the real twist is what happened next, once the drunken passcodes came out and Apple Pay turned into cash.

Despite his success (if you can call a prison sentence “success”), Johnson is now sharing his tactics—maybe in an effort to redeem himself, or perhaps just because he knows he’s already paying the price.

The Wall Street Journal

Before the Apple Pay empties and the high-end shopping started, Johnson zeroed in on drunk students who were distracted and easy to talk into handing over their phones.

He would scope out his targets—usually intoxicated, carefree male college-age students. They were the perfect candidates, he explained, since they were often distracted and willing to trust him with their phones. 

He’d approach them under the guise of a friendly encounter—maybe he’d offer to add them on Snapchat or claim he was a rapper looking to connect. His unsuspecting victims would then hand over their phones, blissfully unaware they were playing into his hands. 

And here’s where it gets clever. Drunk and disoriented, his victims would rattle off their passcodes, thinking nothing of it. Once he had the passcode, it was game over.

The Psychology Behind Theft

Theft often stems from a complex interplay of psychological factors such as impulse control and socio-economic pressures.

Johnson’s victims learned the hard way that trusting a stranger can cost you more than you think

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Then he switched tactics, playing the friendly rapper or the Snapchat connection, until the victims were comfortable enough to trust him with the passcode.

This also echoes the Reddit debate over confronting a friend who secretly fed an allergic newborn.

Once that passcode was in his hands, it was game over, and he turned their “face on the screen” into cash purchases for resale.

As he put it, “When you’ve got your face on there, you’ve got the key to everything.” 

Before his victims even knew what hit them, he’d emptied their Apple Pay accounts and bought high-end products to sell for cash. Not bad for a night’s work, but definitely illegal.

So, what’s the moral of the story? Don’t trust anyone with your phone—especially if they offer to add you on Snapchat in a dark, crowded bar. It only takes one night and misplaced trust to lose it all.

Now that he’s out, he’s still telling the story, and it makes you wonder how many people walked away thinking it was just a bad night, not a repeatable playbook.

securitymagazine.com'>Security Magazine, advocate for the implementation of advanced tracking technologies and user-education programs to combat smartphone theft. Research indicates that educating users about security features, such as Find My iPhone, can significantly reduce theft occurrences.

Additionally, they recommend that smartphone manufacturers incorporate more robust security measures, like biometric authentication and remote locking capabilities, to deter thieves. By adopting these strategies, the likelihood of becoming a victim can be greatly diminished.

The article sheds light on the alarming reality of smartphone theft, particularly the cunning methods employed by thieves to exploit vulnerabilities in our everyday lives. The case of the convicted felon who amassed $300,000 from stealing iPhones illustrates that these crimes are not merely opportunistic acts but often stem from complex socio-economic circumstances. By addressing the deeper issues that lead individuals to resort to theft, society can develop more effective prevention strategies.

Moreover, the need for enhanced security features on devices is evident. Empowering smartphone users through education about these threats, coupled with advanced technology to protect against theft, can significantly mitigate the risks. A multifaceted approach that combines innovative security measures, community engagement, and a compassionate understanding of the factors driving such criminal behavior is essential for creating a safer environment for all iPhone users.

He may be trying to “redeem” himself, but the $300k he raked in still sounds like the real problem.

Then brace yourself for more fallout, like when I spilled my brother’s secret at family dinner, and everything blew up.