Your iPhone has some great anti-theft features that make it difficult for thieves to access the device. Even if someone wipes your phone, they’ll still need your Apple ID and password to get into it and turn off “Find My”—if they ever want to sell it. would need to be done.
However, it is not necessary that the information on your phone is completely safe. Since Apple’s security measures are sufficient to keep your data out of prying eyes, scammers have moved to target the weakest point in the system: you.
how does this scam work
There are many people who have had their iPhones stolen and have shared their experiences on Reddit. the user u/navalsquat Here’s how the scam works: After you lose possession of your phone, you’re contacted by someone pretending to be a Good Samaritan. These scammers claim to be concerned about your privacy, saying they bought what now appears to be a stolen phone on Facebook Marketplace or a similar secondary market, and turned it in to find out. Given that it is full of your personal data. They’re writing to let you know, and asking you to remove the device from your Apple ID, lest all that juicy data be left in the hands of a stranger. Isn’t that cool about them—less worrying about your data. Everyone is a winner! Or would be, if they weren’t really trying to get you to essentially give them the phone free and clear.
People who lose their phones are usually stressed and want to do whatever it takes to get the iPhone fixed easily. When someone is bombarding you with messages claiming that their actions can help, you can slip up and make a mistake. This response is what scammers aim for. Removing your Apple ID from the iPhone allows scammers to unlock the iPhone for their own purposes or to sell it to someone else.
If you ignore the message or avoid removing the device from your Apple account, there’s little more a thief can do than try to sell it to someone who doesn’t know they’re buying a fancy paperweight.
g/o media can get commission
In another version of the scam, you may receive a text that looks like it’s from Apple, including a link that looks suspiciously like an Apple URL: Lcloud.com (spelled with a lowercase L). But, it looks like iCloud.com). When you click on this link, the page will look almost exactly like Apple’s official website. However, the scammer gains access to your Apple ID as soon as you enter your credentials.
How scammers find your contact details
If you’re wondering how someone gets your contact information after stealing your iPhone, the answer is simple. You can use Siri on any iPhone and ask: “Whose iPhone is this?” This shows your contact information to anyone who has access to your device.
You can block this feature by disabling Siri when the iPhone is locked, but it’s not worth the risk. Remember, this is also the option that allows strangers to contact people in your address book if you’re having a medical emergency.
In addition, scammers can even remove your SIM card and use it with another phone to find your phone number.
What to do when your iPhone is stolen or lost
Instead of paying attention to messages from strangers, the first thing you should do if you lose your phone is to mark it as lost. The simplest way to do this is to go into the Find My app on any connected Apple device. If you don’t have access to other Apple devices, go to iCloud.com/findSign in to your Apple ID, and mark the device as lost.
On-screen steps will guide you through the process, and you can even leave a contact name and number for people to reach you if they want to return your device. Once this is done, do No Remove the device from your Apple ID, or from Lost Mode, until your iPhone is returned to you—and use your Apple ID to sign in to any site or remove the device from your Apple Account Watch for any suspicious or unexpected requests.