The Swiss National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is warning iPhone owners about a phishing scam that claims to have found your lost or stolen iPhone but is actually trying to steal your Apple ID credentials.
When iPhone customers lose their phone or it is stolen, they can set a custom message in Apple's Find My app that appears on the lock screen. When lost, this message may include an email address or phone number to contact the owner.
According to the NCSC, threat actors may be using this information to send targeted phishing texts (smishing) through SMS or iMessage to the displayed contact information, claiming to be from Apple's Find My team and stating that their phone had been found.
"Losing your iPhone is always annoying. Not only is the device gone, but your personal data may also be lost," explains the NCSC.
"Once the initial panic has passed, most people are left hoping that someone honest will find it. But if scammers have your phone, they may try to exploit this hope. They send text messages or iMessages that appear to come from Apple, claiming that the lost iPhone has been found abroad. "
The phishing message includes convincing details such as the phone's model, color, and any other information that can be extracted directly from the locked device.
"We are pleased to inform you that your lost iPhone 14 128GB Midnight has been successfully located," reads the phishing text.
"To view the current location of your device, please click the link below:
"If you did not initiate a lost device report or believe this message was sent in error, please disregard it or contact our support team immediately."
Phishing text stating a lost iPhone was found
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