Don’t Let Your Friends Get Carried Away by This IPhone 12 Scam
No, you won’t get the iPhone 12, not now, and certainly not free. As of this writing, there is no iPhone 12 – it only exists in the realm of rumors and fantasies until Apple actually announces the thing, but that hasn’t stopped scammers from using it as bait to attract unsuspecting victims.
Some people get sucked in text messages that suggest they are “selected” for a special opportunity to get a free iPhone 12 (a phone that, again, is not available for purchase). You probably know it’s best not to buy a scam like this, but you are a seasoned Lifehacker reader. Unfortunately, not everyone is so perceptive.
Of course, you might one day be able to get a “free” iPhone 12. The process would involve a mobile operator asking you to jump through additional hoops that make them money, how to add additional service lines to an existing plan, stock trading , old phone or immediately change the provider. Then you will, of course, get a “free” phone, but pay for it, no matter how you agree. You always pay for it in one way or another.
Scam text messages are written as if they were intended for someone else but were accidentally sent to you. They require you to click on a link to participate in a dedicated “Apple Testing Program 2020”. Because, as you know, Apple needs regular people to test hardware before release. It happens all the time.
As Sophos describes:
“… if you do click on the questions, you will be taken to a fraudulent site (there were several options, all similar – we tried to use smish many times), where you find that the“ free ”phone is paid by the courier, usually from 1 to £ 2.
You then land on a credit card payment form that is hosted on what looks like a “specials” website with a plausible enough name and an HTTPS security lock if you take the time to search.
Of course, if you try to pay a modest shipping fee, you will simply give the scammers your personal information, including your full card number and security code. ”
Basic, right? But again, you’re smart. People who are not very tech-savvy or phishing-savvy, or are simply fascinated by the idea of Apple’s shiny new hardware, are more likely to click this link out of curiosity. The astute ones will understand what it is, but obviously there are enough people out there who are willing to blindly give up their credit cards, so the phishing attempt is worth it.
Let’s go over the basics of how to detect fraud (again)
There are many great tips to take from this “free iPhone 12” offer and share with less careful friends and family. First, rarely does anyone from the legitimate offer you something for free, which is likely to cost you $ 700 or more. Second, no big tech player is going to just release hardware that hasn’t been released yet.
Then there is the obvious problem with a message like this that comes to you as text, without any information indicating that the sender knows who you are, or any suggestion of what you did to get such an incredible surprise. … After all, new iPhones don’t just fall from the sky.
Third, the “offer” does nothing but the bare minimum to appear sincere. The fraudulent hyperlink you see in the Sophos post does not even point to the actual Apple website. It’s a link to ” http://apple.co.uk/2020promo ” that won’t go anywhere if you just copy and paste it into your browser’s address bar (instead of clicking on the link). When you click on the specified link, a fake site opens – a fact that should be obvious to almost everyone.
Finally, there is the rough proposal mechanic. As the kids say, Apple is “rich AF.” He wastes more money in a day than most people will ever see in their entire life. You don’t need to pay for shipping if he gives you this item for free. Whatever you say about the cost of everything else Apple does, the company can certainly afford FedEx if it’s going to ship you an iPhone 12 – which it isn’t, because come on already .