{"id":76606,"date":"2024-10-01T14:00:04","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T14:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/6e73522800347cb2ff08fecaf94b24b0"},"modified":"2024-10-01T14:00:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T14:00:04","slug":"scammers-sneaky-new-tactic-preying-on-people-whove-lost-their-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/scammers-sneaky-new-tactic-preying-on-people-whove-lost-their-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"Scammers\u2019 sneaky new tactic preying on people who\u2019ve lost their iPhone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Losing your iPhone can be a stressful and frustrating experience. Scammers are often ready to exploit the anxiety of distraught iPhone owners searching for their lost devices. These unscrupulous individuals have developed various schemes to take advantage of the situation and make a quick profit. This context is crucial in understanding the concerns raised by Donald, who wrote to us regarding lost iPhone scams. Donald from Saginaw, Michigan, shared his experience:<\/p>\n

“I lost an Apple iPhone 6 and found numerous online scams claiming they could locate it for just 89 cents. They promised to get back to me in three hours, but instead, I received a bill for $48.00 in yearly dues.”<\/i><\/p>\n

In addition to the scam Donald encountered, there are also scammers who falsely claim to have found or purchased your lost or stolen phone and offer to delete your sensitive data for a small fee.<\/p>\n

While you cannot control the loss of your iPhone, there are several proactive steps you can take to facilitate the recovery of your device or data. If your iPhone is lost for good, you can still take measures to protect your personal information.<\/p>\n

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT\u2019S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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iPhone with security on the home screen<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Steps to protect yourself if your iPhone is lost or stolen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While various methods exist to locate a lost iPhone, many security features require access to another device or your iCloud.com account. Always ensure that location services<\/u><\/span> are enabled and that you have set up “Find My iPhone”<\/u><\/span> and other built-in security features<\/u><\/span> on the iPhone as soon as you activate your phone. Taking these steps will maximize your ability to recover your iPhone should it get lost or stolen. Below are the steps you can take to protect yourself if your iPhone is lost or stolen.<\/p>\n

1) Activate and use \u2018Find My\u2019 app<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you have the “Find My” set up on your iPhone, you can use another Apple device or log in to iCloud.com to locate your phone. Need a step-by-step guideline on how to use “Find My” to locate your iPhone? Check out how to find your lost iPhone<\/u><\/span>HOW TO SECURELY LOCK YOUR IPHONE AND IPAD FROM PRYING EYES<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2) Play a sound<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve enabled “Find My” for your iPhone, you can log onto iCloud.com or another Apple device and under your iPhone profile you can select “Play Sound.” If your iPhone is nearby, you can listen for the sound playing from your iPhone to help you locate it.<\/p>\n

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Play sound on iPhone (Apple)<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NEW CYBERATTACK TARGETS IPHONE AND APPLE IDS: HERE\u2019S HOW TO STAY SAFE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3) Mark iPhone as lost<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve enabled “Find My” for your iPhone, you can log onto iCloud.com or another Apple device to mark your iPhone as lost. When you select “Mark as lost” under your iPhone options, it will lock your phone and display a message with your contact information.<\/p>\n

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Mark As Lost on iPhone (Apple)<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IPHONE & IPAD FROM MALWARE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4) Turn on \u2018Activation Lock\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you turn on “Find My” for your iPhone, you automatically turn on “Activation Lock” for your device. As long as “Find My” is on your iPhone, even if someone finds your lost phone or steals it, “Activation lock” will ensure that no one can activate your iPhone without your Apple ID or passcode. This is true even if your data is wiped or phone is factory reset.<\/p>\n

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iPhone Locked To Owner (Apple)<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

AVOID IPHONE PRIVACY DISASTERS WITH THESE 10 SMART TIPS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5) Set up \u2018Stolen Device Protection\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

“Stolen Device Protection”<\/u><\/span> can give you an extra layer of protection. This feature gives you an additional layer of protection when your iPhone leaves a familiar location, such as work or home. If you have this feature on and your device is away from your familiar locations, it will require Face ID or Touch ID for biometric authentication to access sensitive features of your iPhone, such as passwords or credit card information. Additionally, it will activate a security delay so that outside of your familiar locations, there is an hour delay in taking security actions, such as changing your Apple ID password and then using Face ID or Touch ID authentication. Here are the steps to set up “Stolen Device Protection” on your iPhone.<\/p>\n