Kaspersky: Beware Of Fraud Under The Guise Of Discounts For Purchase Of Fake IPhone 16

IPhone 16 product display (photo: Apple)

JAKARTA - Taking advantage of the enthusiasm of the community after the launch of the iPhone 16 series, Kaspersky researchers discovered fraud related to pre-ordering the iPhone 16, in a website that was made seem legitimate and convincing.

One of the common scams used by cybercriminals is an initial offering to users to order the latest iPhone with a discount of almost 40 percent.

Later, the victims will be directed to a website showing off a new iPhone with the lure of "becoming one of the first to enjoy advanced technology."

After clicking the link, the victim will be asked to provide collection and delivery information, with the option to pay through PayPal.

Fraudsters then issue fake invoices after victims click 'add to baskets' or 'buy', taking into account taxes and shipments, and even offering free delivery for orders above $1.000.

After payment was made, the victims immediately realized that the money had been lost from their accounts, but no iPhone was sent.

"What's even more worrying, the scammers now have their personal information, which can be sold on the dark web," Olga Svistunova, a security expert at Kaspersky, said in a statement.

Another scam discovered by Kaspersky experts was an offer of iPhone technical support that allowed them to update their mobile devices.

The fake site is Spanish, which may be aimed at Latin American users, also claiming it will take them to a page where they can report lost or stolen cell phones, and another page to help them find their device.

Finally, at the bottom, the victim was also given the option to contact the repair service. Instead, the page only asks you to enter with Apple ID (the odd page in English).

If the victim is lulled by the scam, the fraudster can access personal details such as name, email address, data stored on iCloud, and sell them on the dark web.

In order not to be deceived, make sure you do pre-order directly from Apple's official website.