Kaspersky discovers iPhone 18 scam modus operandi via fake websites

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has discovered a number of fake websites leveraging public enthusiasm for the launch of the iPhone 18 to offer devices using fictitious prices and purchase schemes.

In a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, Kaspersky noted that these fraudulent sites were found in several languages, including English, Arabic, and Portuguese.

“For years, we have seen the emergence of various fraudulent offers coinciding with the launch of popular devices,” said Kaspersky Senior Web Content Analyst Olga Altukhova.

One site offers the iPhone 18 with discounts of up to 25 per cent. The website includes device specification information and provides several payment methods, including Bitcoin.

Through the site, users are offered the ability to pre-order the iPhone 18 Pro with various colour and storage capacity options. Some of the colours offered were even noted to be different from those officially announced by Apple during launches.

The site also offers payment schemes that allow buyers to avoid full upfront payment and promises full refunds if an order is cancelled.

During the ordering process, users are asked to provide various pieces of personal data, such as full name, telephone number, email address, city of residence, and WhatsApp contact details.

According to Kaspersky, this data has the potential to be misused for social engineering. Victims are subsequently asked to enter bank card information, meaning scammers could potentially obtain payment data and access the victims’ funds. The firm warned users to be careful when choosing shopping venues and to make purchases only through official and trusted retailers.

Users are also advised to use virtual cards or specialised payment services for online transactions to reduce the risk of misuse of card or bank account information.

Furthermore, users are encouraged to use security solutions capable of detecting and blocking phishing links, as well as activating multi-factor authentication on financial accounts and applications.

Kaspersky also reminded users to check their transaction histories regularly to detect any unauthorised financial activity.