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Your iPhone Isn't as Safe as You Think—Beware of This Text Scam!

Security| Phone| Apple
January 14, 2025•1 min read

Beware of New Phishing Scam Targeting iMessage Users

Cybercriminals have developed a new phishing tactic that manipulates iPhone users into disabling iMessage's built-in phishing protections, thereby exposing them to potential scams.

How the Scam Works

Apple's "Filter Unknown Senders" feature in iMessage automatically disables links in messages from unknown contacts, preventing users from inadvertently clicking on malicious links. However, recent reports indicate that scammers are sending messages prompting users to reply with "Y" or similar responses. Responding to these messages re-enables the disabled links, making them clickable and allowing scammers to execute their phishing attacks. cite The Sun

Protecting Yourself

To safeguard against this scam:

  1. Do Not Respond to Unknown Senders: Avoid replying to messages from unknown contacts, especially those prompting you to take specific actions.

  2. Enable "Filter Unknown Senders": Ensure this feature is activated to automatically filter out messages from unknown contacts. To enable:

    • Go to Settings > Messages.

    • Scroll down and toggle on Filter Unknown Senders.

  3. Manually Verify Links: If you receive a message with a link from an unknown sender, do not click on it. Instead, verify its legitimacy through official channels.

  4. Stay Informed: Regularly update yourself on the latest phishing tactics to remain vigilant against new scams.

By following these precautions, you can enhance your security and reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing attacks.

Sources:

  1. Urgent iPhone Warning Over New Bank Raiding Text That Turns Off Important Protection Feature
    The Sun
    URL:     https://www.the-sun.com/tech/13283063/iphone-warning-phishing-text-scam-apple/

  2. Innocent iPhone Owners Must Never Break 'Six Sentence' Rule—It's a Costly Mistake That Could Leave You with a Big Bill
    The Sun
    URL:     https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/29900074/iphone-owners-six-sentence-rule-hackers-scams-fraud/

  3. 'Act Quickly' If You Receive 'Innocent' Text on iPhone or Android That Actually Means You're a Hack Target, Experts Warn
    The Sun
    URL:     https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/29395745/security-code-one-time-password-hack-iphone-android/

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