Before You Reply To That "We Found Your iPhone" Text, Read This Warning

"Here's how it works: The scammers pretend to be a legitimate Apple representative. They send text messages or iMessages, claiming that your lost iPhone has been found abroad, sometimes weeks or months after you may have lost it. "To make the messages look convincing, they include accurate details of the missing device - such as its model, color, and storage capacity - which the scammers can read directly from the phone itself," the NCSC warns in its alert."

"The scammer then asks you to "click the link below" in the message to learn more about where your phone might be. People are then directed to a site that looks real. "The message contains a link that supposedly shows the device's location, but it actually leads to a fake website designed to look like Apple's official login page," NCSC states. What the scammers really want is for you to share your Apple ID credentials so they can unlock your phone and use it."

"This scam works because it's tempting to believe your lost phone is within reach. And that's when you stop thinking with your head. "You go into panic if you've lost your phone...You're not necessarily thinking cognitively," said Amy Nofziger, the director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. "Do not give any of your personal information out to a link that came to you unsolicited," Nofziger said. "My best advice is to not try to discern if it's Apple or not reaching"

Scammers impersonate Apple representatives and send texts or iMessages claiming a lost iPhone has been found, sometimes abroad and long after loss. The messages include accurate device details that scammers can read directly from the phone to appear credible. Recipients are urged to click a link that leads to a realistic-looking fake Apple login page. The primary goal is to trick victims into revealing Apple ID credentials so scammers can unlock and use the device. Panic after losing a phone increases susceptibility. Authorities advise not to provide personal information to unsolicited links and to treat such messages as scams.

Read at BuzzFeed