A1 reports new fraudulent schemes involving Apple mobile devices lockout

A1 informs its subscribers about an increase in fraudulent attempts related to Apple mobile devices lockout. Online scammers ask you to sign out of your Apple account (iCloud) on your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook under various pretexts, and sign in to one they control. To do this, they provide a login (email address) and password. As a result, the owner of someone else's account changes your account password and then remotely activates the Find My iPhone feature via the iCloud service, thereby putting the device into Lost Mode and completely blocking it. Then, under the pretext of unlocking your device, the extortionists demand you transfer money.

Typically, even if the extortionist's demands are met, the device remains locked in the vast majority of cases. It should also be noted that the mechanism for blocking victims' Apple mobile devices is not implemented by hacking the iOS operating system (iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, depending on the device), but through social engineering methods that exploit people's trust. This type of psychological manipulation is especially dangerous because the victim does not immediately realize they've become a victim of a fraudulent scheme and does not immediately contact law enforcement.

Scammers may use the following excuses to get you to sign out of your account:

1) assistance in downloading any important files (photos, documents, course papers, etc.) from iCloud storage under the cover story about a "broken phone";

2) advertising free games, gaming accounts or applications on the TikTok social network or in Telegram messenger groups, which require logging into the Apple account provided by the scammer to install;

3) employment for a position usually related to testing mobile applications for Apple devices, for which the applicant must log in to a supposedly corporate Apple account.

It is important to note that service center employees do not provide services to restore Apple devices or iCloud accounts blocked by scammers. Unlocking such a device is only possible by contacting Apple technical support and providing documents confirming the legality of the device purchase.

Under no circumstances should you do the following:

• sign in to someone else's Apple account on your mobile device, even if a friend asks you to;
• share your Apple account login and password with anyone;
• click any unknown links sent by strangers;
• enter your Apple iCloud account login and password on third-party websites.

To protect its subscribers and all Belarusian citizens from cyber fraud, A1 is conducting a nationwide information campaign, #Take5seconds. Visit the safety.a1.by website to learn more about the effective methods for combating fraud and get basic online safety tips.

In addition to the information campaign, A1 also pays great attention to the development of software and useful services for protecting personal and corporate devices. Thus, A1 has launched the Safe Internet service, which prevents access to malicious websites and blocks suspicious domains, which may contain viruses, spyware or scams like phishing. It protects both individuals and companies from getting their devices infected with data-stealing malware and resulting data leaks. For more information about the service, please visit a1.by/protect.

As for A1's business clients, they are provided with a wide range of services available on the basis of the company's own data center.

Stay alert and be careful!