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- Apple kidnappers: what schemes to expect from scammers due to the release of new products from Apple
Apple kidnappers: what schemes to expect from scammers due to the release of new products from Apple
Fraudsters are expected to activate in the fall due to the traditional Apple Event presentation of new gadgets. The iPhone 17 smartphone line and other devices will be presented at the event, which will be held on September 9 in Cupertino, California. What schemes to expect from scammers and how to protect yourself from them — in the Izvestia article.
How and why scammers cheat with the new iPhone 17
Fraudsters are expected to activate in the fall due to the traditional Apple Event presentation of new gadgets, in particular the iPhone 17. Apple is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, and fraud involving its mention attracts fraudsters for several reasons, says Maria Mikhailova, head of the Angara SOC brand protection group, in an interview with Izvestia.
— Firstly, presentations attract an audience of millions, and any mention of new iPhones or MacBooks automatically causes a surge of interest. Some fans of the brand tend to buy the gadget first, which creates fertile ground for intruders. At the same time, the high cost of new devices makes such fraud especially profitable," says the expert.
Against the background of the hype during the presentation, the attackers successfully disguise their schemes as legitimate proposals, adds Alexey Korobchenko, head of the Information security department at the Security Code company. For example, fake websites with company logos and corporate identity may collect pre-orders for new devices.
What schemes should we expect in 2025 against the background of Apple's presentation?
Maria Mikhailova is sure that the theme of iPhone17 and other new products will be exploited both before and after the autumn presentation.
"Users will be sent to fake sites not only through direct links, but also with QR codes to allegedly participate in pre—orders or even gain access to a private broadcast, which will contain malware," says the specialist.
The development of technology and advances in AI make it difficult to recognize deception. Neural networks will be used to create realistic videos and company-style posts or even deepfake videos. Advertising materials and votes can be forged, Alexey Korobchenko agrees.
Rishat Minekhanov, Senior Information Security analyst at Innostage, expects announcements about sweepstakes and pre-orders for devices with big discounts.
— Now that there is no official Apple store in Russia, and the equipment comes only through parallel imports, fraudsters have even more reasons to manipulate. You can expect a lot of "super offers" in messengers and social networks, ads on marketplaces with painted reviews, as well as calls and letters about "early deliveries at exclusive prices," the expert explains.
What fraud schemes with new products from Apple have you encountered before
Each Apple presentation is accompanied by a surge of already proven fraudulent schemes based on users' trust in the brand and their desire to be the first to touch the new products, Ekaterina Edemskaya, a cyber expert and engineering analyst at Gazinformservice, says in an interview with Izvestia.
For example, phishing clone sites of popular retailers collect data from bank cards and Apple ID accounts in the form of "pre—orders". According to the expert, such sites often look as plausible as possible: with branded design, fake safety certificates, and even reviews from "customers."
"Another scheme was sending fake emails on behalf of Apple, where users were persuaded to go through "account verification" or "confirm order," which led to the compromise of credentials," says the specialist.
According to Ekaterina Edemskaya, links to sweepstakes were also actively distributed on social networks and messengers, where it was allegedly possible to win a gadget, but it was necessary to pay for delivery. After the payment, the contact with the "organizers" disappeared. Often, criminals simply sold fakes.
The main audience of scammers is devoted fans of the Apple brand, seeking to be the first to receive new devices and exclusive offers, Alexey Korobchenko adds. They risk losing not only money, but also valuable personal information, including accounts and Apple IDs, as well as passwords and bank card information. And this will entail not only financial, but also legal problems.
How to protect yourself from fraud schemes on the topic of "apple" new products
In order not to fall for the trick, it is important to apply critical thinking and follow the basic rules of information security. Alexey Korobchenko advises checking information sources and ordering gadgets only on official or reputable websites.
It's important to remember: if an ad promises "an iPhone is faster and cheaper than anyone else," it's almost certainly a hoax.
Rishat Minekhanov recommends waiting for the appearance of new products from trusted sellers and not relying on "super profitable" offers.
— Moreover, you should not transfer money directly to individuals. It is better to choose payment upon receipt in order to additionally protect the funds," the expert emphasizes.
If there is no such option, it is worth paying for pre-orders with a virtual, rather than a main card, in order to minimize the risk of financial losses, Alexey Korobchenko clarifies.
It is useful to examine the URL of the resource in the address bar and make sure that it starts with https:// and contains the official name of the company, and not its fake version.
Resources for checking domains (whois services) will also help, where you can see the date of the site's creation, and sometimes find out the owner, says Kaspersky Lab content analyst Tatiana Shcherbakova. A very recent domain registered to a private individual is a reason to be wary.
In addition, it is worth enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for Apple ID.
— Special care should be taken when clicking on links in email newsletters, especially if the email came from an unknown sender or looks suspicious. It must be remembered that Apple never requires users to provide personal data or payment information via e-mail, concludes Ekaterina Edemskaya.
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