We’re seeing a growing number of “free iPhone” scams these days, and here’s another one to add to the list. In this one, a brand new iPhone or Android phone is delivered to your doorstep, and in an unusual move, the scammers don’t use your money to buy it!
As noted by 9to5Mac, the “classic” iPhone scam is when a bad actor figures out how to pose as you with your mobile carrier, ordering a new iPhone and stealing it from your doorstep before you ever see it.
Now, CNET shares a new type of free phone scam I have to say I’ve personally never heard of before.
This scam has a package with an iPhone inside being delivered to you, even though you hadn’t ordered it. The bad actors are counting on the natural larceny in us all (yes, even you an me), hoping you’ll think to yourself, “cool! a free phone,” and activate the device, loading all of your personal data on it.
You activate the phone and input your personal information. Then it locks, freezes up and goes dark. You are now a cautionary tale with a useless phone, and some scammer out there has your personal information.
The CNET piece also includes expert (and logical) advice that if you do receive an unexpected package with a phone in it, don’t activate the damn thing and start using it!
“Engaging means plugging it in, powering it on, scanning a QR code or inserting a SIM card,” Coughlin says. “Any one of those can hand a scammer access to your accounts, your identity, or your phone number.”
He adds: “We’ve seen cheap phones preloaded with malware, SIM cards designed to route fraudulent activity through your name and QR codes that drop credential-stealing pages on your device the second you scan them. So leave it alone.”
While this is likely more apt to happen with a cheap Android phone than an iPhone, it doesn’t hurt to be alert. There are plnty of scams out there that could affect iPhone, such as this one that targets older individuals:
This has happened in states like California, and it’s pretty nerve-racking. The criminal knocks on your door, posing as a representative of Medicare, and the pitch goes: “Hey, you’re going to get this new phone, no strings attached. I just need to scan your insurance card into this phone. OK, great, thanks. Now, here’s your insurance card, and I’m going to go to my car with your phone and call this information into my superiors. Then I’ll come right back and give you your phone.”
Unfortunately, the “Medicare representative” goes back to their vehicle and zooms away. You have no new phone, and some stranger is speeding away with your health insurance information.
What all this comes down to is nothing in life is free and id it seems too good to be true, it definitely is. Be wary, my friends.
