Two French nationals and one Macedonian detained in Belgrade over iPhone 18 Pro Max fraud

Three men — two French nationals identified by initials G.B. (born 1982) and L.J.T.B. (born 1998), and a Macedonian national M.M. (born 1990) — were detained in Belgrade under an order from the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade.

Alleged scheme at Gigatron store

According to the prosecution's action, police from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia — specifically the Police Directorate for the City of Belgrade, the Criminal Police Directorate (CPD) and the Department for Combating Property Crimes — took the three into custody on suspicion of committing the criminal offence of fraud, under Article 208 of the Criminal Code, in connection with Articles 33 and 61.

Prosecutors say the offence occurred on 16 October 2026 in the New Belgrade municipality. The suspects allegedly sought an unlawful financial gain exceeding 450,000.00 dinars by deceiving an employee at a Gigatron retail outlet during the purchase of an iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Investigators describe the method as follows: M.M. drove L.J.T.B. to a Gigatron shop where the two met G.B. L.J.T.B. entered the store carrying a card resembling a payment card but equipped with software designed to disrupt the terminal's communication. By this device he allegedly misled store staff about the payment for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Afterwards, L.J.T.B. and M.M. went to an auto service centre where L.J.T.B. handed the mobile phone to G.B. The three are suspected of gaining unlawful property benefit greater than 450,000.00 dinars as a result of the scheme.

The investigation was ordered by the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade and carried out by units of the Belgrade police; the suspects remain detained pending further legal steps.

Photo: press material from the event