The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned iPhone owners about a new scam that targets people who have lost their devices.
Many users have reported getting text messages claiming that their missing iPhone has been found in another country, even months after it disappeared. While the message gives hope that the phone has been recovered, it is actually a phishing attempt designed to steal Apple ID login details.
When an iPhone goes missing, most people are anxious and hope that someone honest will return it. Scammers take advantage of this emotion by sending fake messages that appear to come from Apple. These messages often include accurate details about the lost phone, such as its model, color, and storage capacity.
Criminals can see this information directly from the stolen device, which helps make their messages look convincing. The text usually contains a link that supposedly shows the phone’s location, but instead, it leads to a fake Apple website. If the victim enters their Apple ID and password there, the scammers gain full control of the account.
The main goal of this scam is to remove Apple’s Activation Lock, a feature that connects every iPhone to its owner’s Apple ID and prevents thieves from using or reselling it. Since there is no official way to bypass this lock, scammers rely on tricking users into unlocking it themselves. It remains unclear how they get the phone number of a locked device, but experts believe they may use the SIM card that was in the phone at the time of the loss, or contact details displayed on the lock screen through Apple’s Find My feature.
The NCSC advises users to ignore such messages because Apple never contacts people through text or email to inform them that a lost device has been found. Users should avoid clicking on links in suspicious messages or entering their Apple ID credentials on unfamiliar websites. If a phone goes missing, it is best to immediately enable Lost Mode using the Find My app or through iCloud.com/find. This will lock the device and help protect personal data.
Experts also recommend being careful about what contact information is displayed on the lost phone’s lock screen. Using a separate email address just for this purpose can help reduce risk. In addition, protecting the SIM card with a PIN code can prevent criminals from accessing the phone number.
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This scam serves as a reminder that, even in difficult situations like losing a phone, it is important to stay cautious. What looks like good news could actually be a trap designed to steal your data and compromise your privacy.
