Phone theft is on the rise, with a significant increase in stolen smartphones, reaching 117,000 in London alone last year, and an expected surge in 2025. The high value of some iPhones, priced at over £1,200, makes them a prime target for criminals. Besides the financial loss, the theft of personal data stored on these devices, including photos, bank details, and private emails, is a major concern.
Apple has implemented robust security features like Stolen Device Protection to make it challenging for thieves to use stolen iPhones. Despite this, criminals are attempting to bypass these security measures. If an iPhone is stolen, owners should beware of messages claiming the device has been recovered.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre in Switzerland, scammers are employing deceptive tactics to remove security features like Activation Lock, which ties an iPhone to its owner’s Apple ID, rendering it unusable and unsellable to thieves. These scammers send personalized messages containing links to fake Apple websites, aiming to trick owners into providing access codes, allowing criminals to wipe the device and access sensitive data.
The NCSC suspects that scammers may be obtaining users’ phone numbers through SIM cards or Apple’s Find My feature, which displays contact details on a lost device’s lock screen. To enhance user safety, the NCSC has issued five crucial tips to follow in case of iPhone theft, emphasizing that Apple never contacts users unexpectedly to request personal information or clicks on links.
The recommended actions include ignoring unsolicited messages, refraining from clicking on unknown links, activating Lost Mode immediately via the Find My app, being cautious about displaying contact details on the lock screen, and safeguarding the SIM card with a PIN. These measures are essential to prevent unauthorized access and protect against potential data breaches.