Lost IPhone Alert Is a Phishing Scam
If your iPhone was lost or stolen, you’ll likely be glad to have it back, even if it’s been weeks or months since you replaced it. Having your old phone can give you peace of mind that your data is safe, and in a worst-case scenario, you can sell it, trade it, or use it for something else.
Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to see your missing iPhone again, but scammers are hoping you’ll give them enough hope to fall for a phishing scam that promises your device has been found.
How the Lost iPhone Scam Works
According to an alert from the Swiss National Cyber Security Center, some iPhone owners whose devices were lost or stolen are receiving SMS or iMessage notifications (presumably from Apple) that their phones have been found. The text messages contain detailed and precise information about the missing iPhone, including the model, color, and storage capacity, and prompt users to click a link to locate the device. The message is signed “FindMy Support Team.”
Of course, like all phishing scams, this link is fake. It redirects you to a fake Apple Find My page with an Apple ID account, designed to steal your credentials, which the scammers can then use to hack your account.
This scam aims to disable Apple’s built-in security feature that links your iPhone to your Apple ID, preventing thieves from deleting your data and reselling your device. It’s unclear how the scammers obtain your phone number for text messages, although in some cases they may obtain it from the lock screen message that can be enabled when putting your device in Lost Mode. This may be a valid reason to include alternate contact information, such as a separate email address, in your message.
Don’t fall for iPhone scams
If you receive a message with a link to find your lost iPhone, ignore it. Apple doesn’t contact users via SMS or email with news about found devices. (Of course, if you’ve enabled Lost Mode and someone messages you claiming to have your device, be careful.) Never click links in unsolicited messages, as these are common phishing scams.
Of course, you should mark your device as lost in the Find My app to disable alerts and notifications on the lock screen, as well as access to payment cards. You should also consider enabling Apple’s Device Theft Protection feature —an anti-theft feature that helps prevent your iPhone from being hacked—in advance. If your device does become lost, don’t remove it from your Apple account, as this will disable some security features.