Apple iPhone scam offering $500 voucher may give criminals your personal photos, passwords

NewsThe scam features a website that looks like an official Apple page, but the links on the site actually help criminals gain access to your phone. (Matt Durr | MLive.com)By Matt Durr | mattdurr@mlive.comA new scam promises $500 vouchers for Apple products, but in reality, it’s just a way for criminals to gain access to personal information. Even more alarming: victims’ information may be accessed simply by visiting the webpage, even without clicking any links, according to Malwarebytes. The scam revolves around a fake offer regarding preorders of Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo, according to the AARP. Unsuspecting victims are directed to a fake website designed to look like an official Apple page that offers the $500 voucher. Once the page is open, hidden software attempts to break into the user’s phone. Without the latest Apple security updates, the hidden software can successfully break into the phone and access personal information, private photos and passwords. “Don’t click on links that promise a free phone or deeply discounted one. They are probably after nothing but your personal and financial information,” says Amy Nofziger, the senior director of victim support at the AARP Fraud Watch Network.Targets can identify the fake offer in multiple ways. First, Apple isn’t even offering preorders of the Duo until Oct. 16. Second, the fake website offers colors of the phone that Apple has not announced. To protect themselves from this scam and others like it, users should update their iPhone to the latest security software. To do that, users must go to settings, tap General, then Software Update and install the latest update. Targets who receive offers from Apple can also visit an Apple store or certified retailer to verify any vouchers, coupons or discounts offered. Matt has been a trending news reporter since 2016. He covers a range of topics while focusing on national lottery, automotive news and recalls, FBI warnings, scam alerts and national real estate trends....