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- Who's in the bag: scammers promise Russians to activate unavailable functions in iPhone Duo
Who's in the bag: scammers promise Russians to activate unavailable functions in iPhone Duo
On the eve of the release of the iPhone Duo on October 23, cybercriminals updated their schemes to deceive customers. Among the tricks are suggestions to set up device functions that are not available in Russia, including 5G and Apple Pay. Under the guise of technical assistance, fraudsters can convince a user to log into someone else's account, after which the smartphone may be blocked. At the same time, the clamshell is inferior to competitors in a number of characteristics and has more restrictions for Russian users than conventional iPhone models, Izvestia found out. What buyers who are willing to pay more than 300 thousand rubles for a new product will get, and what schemes scammers use — in our material.
What fraud schemes are used by scammers?
On the eve of the launch of sales of the first folding iPhone Duo, fraudsters have updated their schemes to deceive Russians. One of the most dangerous tricks is offering to activate functions on this smartphone that are unavailable or limited in Russia. Users are promised to set up 5G, Apple Pay and other services for a fee. However, under the guise of technical assistance, attackers can steal not only personal data, but also money.
— Fraudulent schemes related to the connection of Apple smartphones to 5G networks became relevant after the HREOC allowed large operators to deploy a new generation of networks. The release of new Apple models gives this scheme an additional impetus," said Sergey Trukhachev, head of the Smart Business Alert service at ESA PRO.
According to him, the scammers offer users to log into a special iCloud or Apple Account registered in a country where access to 5G is already allowed. However, logging into someone else's account directly on the device creates the risk of blocking it or losing control over it.
— In this case, the user risks not only losing personal data, but also actually losing the opportunity to fully use their own device, — said Sergey Trukhachev. — Attackers can use the activation lock mechanism, and then demand money for restoring access to the smartphone.
Some questionable offers can be recognized even without special technical knowledge. For example, the Duo uses a Touch ID fingerprint scanner instead of Face ID. It is not possible to add full-fledged face recognition using a program or flashback. The smartphone technically supports 5G, but Apple blocks access of Russian devices to fifth-generation networks. iMessage also does not require you to purchase a special license or pay for "unlocking".
— Such restrictions create a convenient ground for fraud. A person buys an expensive smartphone, discovers that a familiar function is missing or not working, and begins to look for a solution. At this point, he may be offered paid unlocking, special firmware, or secret settings," said Vladimir Zykov, director of the Association of Professional Users of Social Networks and Messengers.
Despite the limitations of the Apple company's functions and the high cost of new products, interest in the company's technology remains. Fraudsters take advantage of this, counting on the desire of buyers to get a rare device before others or restore access to familiar services, explained Igor Bederov, founder of the Internet Search company. According to him, the first Duo was brought to Russia from Dubai privately and sold to an anonymous client for 1.6 million rubles. However, the smartphone was subsequently blocked due to an attempt to activate it before the official start of sales.
Fake stores and pre-orders
Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity expert Olga Altukhova reported on the identified Russian-language websites where Duo is offered 25% cheaper than the usual price. The Apple-style design and countdown timer create the illusion of a bargain. When ordering, users leave contact details and an address, after which the manager must contact them.
Another scheme is related to reports of money allegedly written off for a smartphone. The user is advised to urgently contact the support service, whose employees are actually trying to obtain payment data or convince them to transfer funds.
— Scammers use various legends. For example, fake pre-orders: attackers create websites and ads that look similar to the pages of well-known stores and marketplaces. They promise to deliver the device from the first batch with guarantee and require partial or full prepayment," said Alexander Vurasko, Director of Development at the Solar AURA External Digital Threat Monitoring Center at Solar Group.
According to him, criminals also organize fake sweepstakes and closed sales, send messages about problems with payment or delivery and offer to follow the link. On ad platforms, they can transfer communication with customers to instant messengers in order to receive a deposit.
In addition, scammers create fake online stores and pre-order sites, promising discounts and early delivery of new items. After receiving the prepayment, the attackers disappear with the money. Such resources can also exploit iOS vulnerabilities to attack users' devices.
The technical arsenal of scammers is constantly becoming more complicated. According to Irina Zinovkina, head of analytical research at Positive Technologies, fraudsters promote fake websites in search results using keywords and paid advertising. They can use similar methods to influence search results using AI. Another scenario is deepfake videos in which attackers demonstrate allegedly already received smartphones, encouraging users to make a quick purchase.
According to the head of BI.Dmitry Kiryushkin's Digital Risk Protection ZONE, since October 7, the number of domain registrations with the keyword "iphone" has increased by 60% compared to the first week of the month. Such resources can be used to steal payment data and accounts. In addition, scammers send out messages about winning or delivering a smartphone, demanding to pay a fictitious commission.
Experts advise checking website addresses, buying devices from reliable sellers, and not telling outsiders passwords and confirmation codes. The price should be too low, the requirement for an urgent prepayment and an artificially created shortage. For online purchases, it is recommended to use a separate bank card with a set limit.
If the data has already been obtained by fraudsters, Irina Zinovkina recommends notifying the bank as soon as possible, blocking accounts, ending active sessions on devices and changing the account password.
Which services don't work in the iPhone Duo
Izvestia was one of the first companies in Russia to test the Duo and compare it with similar folding smartphones. It turned out that in a number of important characteristics — from screen size and weight to battery capacity — the gadget is inferior to competitors in the same price category. In many ways, Chinese and Korean models, including Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Honor Magic V5, Oppo Find N5 and vivo X Fold5, surpass the novelty of the Apple company.
In addition to the features that are not available to Russians in the iPhone 18 line, the Duo does not have Face ID, the facial recognition system that Apple has been using in its smartphones since 2017. Instead, the manufacturer installed a Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the side button. This changes the usual scenario of device unlocking and authorization in applications.
The smartphone does not have a physical SIM card slot, which can be inconvenient in markets where such cards are still widespread. In addition, the American corporation continues to impose restrictions on Russians: Apple Pay cannot be fully used, and the satellite functions of the iPhone do not work.
Finally, Apple Intelligence still does not support Russian. Therefore, Russian buyers will not be able to use the full range of artificial intelligence capabilities in their native language.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
