iPhone Users Warned of Scam That Threatens to Delete All Photos and Videos
iPhone users are being warned about a scam where thieves threaten to delete all the photos and videos from a device.
WGAL reports that one of its viewers received an email, apparently from iCloud Storage, with a title reading: “Last Try: Your photos and Data Will Be Deleted Soon.”
Of course, the email was not really from iCloud Storage but it does contain a link to click on. That link will take you to a fake website where criminals get you to click once more to siphon off your personal information.
Other email titles might be “Your photos and videos will be deleted, take action!” Anything to panic the recipient into clicking a link before thinking.
Advice Against the Scammers
To avoid falling prey to these types of scams, people are strongly advised to check the message thoroughly before taking any action.
There are usually telltale signs to show that the message is fake. For example, the recipient’s full name won’t be mentioned anywhere in the email, the email will not contain the Apple logo.
A surefire way of revealing that it is a scam email is by clicking on the address which will reveal the message has not come from an Apple.com domain. Often the email address will be complete gobbledygook.
“Scams work when they make you emotional, either very very happy or very very concerned about something,” explains Brian Roche from WGAL.
Apple themselves have warned users about potential fraud.
“Scammers often try to trick you into sharing personal or financial information by sending you messages or links to websites that might look like they’re from Apple, but their actual purpose is to steal your account information,” says the technology giant.
“Some phishing emails will ask you to click on a link to update your account information. Others might look like a receipt for a purchase in the App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store, or for Apple Music, that you’re certain you didn’t make.
“Never enter your account information on websites linked from these messages, and never download or open attachments included within them.”
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
