As the release date for the Apple iPhone 6s draws near, the Apple iPhone scam is becoming more popular with scammers, who are gearing up to take advantage of the unprecedented consumer interest in the product. Prognosticators are expecting the iPhone 6s to be Apple’s most popular release yet. Scammers are well aware that consumers will be looking for deals. As a result, scammers are ramping up their efforts to make their money on Apple’s “next big thing.”
Example of the Apple iPhone scam
I’ve received different versions of this email, but they’re basically the same. Here’s one example.
**********************
Apple iPhone 6 Bonus
***********************
Attention: (my email address listed here)
Earn Your complimentary iPhone 6 gift by July 5, 2015
Go here to redeem your complimentary Apple iPhone 6 gift in 24 Hours> (website link was here)
What does Apple say about the Apple iPhone scam?
A friend of mine received the Apple iPhone scam via email and called her local Apple store. They said they’d been getting a number of phone calls and confirmed that the emails were not from Apple.
Tips about the Apple iPhone email scam
- Never click a link in an unsolicited email. In most cases, the site you land on will be a phishing site where the owner is trying to collect your personal information. However, you could also become the victim of a malicious software download.
- Scammers have taken to putting in all sorts of extraneous text into their emails. This text helps them escape email spam filters. The text takes the form of restaurant reviews, travel reviews, and other completely unrelated nonsense. If you need a laugh, there’s no harm in scrolling to the bottom of these emails to see what was included in your copy. Just don’t click on anything!
- The iPhone 6 scam emails will change as the product release date nears. Most likely, they will take on a “contest” theme, with scammers offering up a free iPhone to anyone who enters their contest. These contests are almost always bogus, but the peril to your personal information very real. Do not enter the contest unless you know with 100% certainty that it’s being run by a legitimate company.
Be aware of the Facebook version of this scam. It’s being run on a Facebook page titled “iPhone 6s” by people who have not revealed anything about themselves. The page launched on March 29 and said “they” would give away 300 iPhones on May 10. After May 10, the contest changed to a July ending date with 30 phones being given away. There may not seem to be much danger in Liking that page, but if you do, you’ll be letting these people know who you are so they can target you in the future.
Want news about the Apple iPhone 6s release? Check the Apple.com website.
