Russians searching for employment are being alerted to a new type of fraud. According to Vitaly Titarenko, a mobile device expert, criminals are posing as potential employers to steal Apple IDs.
The IT specialist explained that scammers initiate contact with users via Telegram, inviting them for an interview. Following a brief chat, the candidate is informed they have been hired. However, to complete a probationary period, they are told they must install a specific application for tracking work hours.
Subsequently, the fraudsters convince the victim to sign out of their personal Apple ID, disable password protection, and log in using a different account, which they claim belongs to the hiring company. Titarenko stated, «Immediately after logging in, the device is placed into Lost Mode using the Find My iPhone feature, and access to manage the Apple ID is blocked. The owner loses the ability to use their smartphone and receives a message demanding a ransom.»
For individuals who have encountered this scam, the expert advises against paying the ransom. Instead, contact an official Apple service center and provide evidence that scammers took control of the device. Staff at the center can help unlink the iPhone from the fraudulent Apple ID and restore it to factory settings.
To prevent becoming a victim of this deceit, Titarenko urged Russians never to sign into someone else`s Apple ID on their personal device and never to sign out of their own account when asked by strangers. Furthermore, the expert emphasized the importance of activating the «Stolen Device Protection» feature. He clarified that this feature requires biometric authentication and imposes a 60-minute delay for changing crucial settings if the device is not in a familiar location. Additionally, he concluded that if a device is purchased second-hand, it should always be reset to factory settings.
Earlier, Russians were warned about a different scam method. Reports indicated that criminals were calling residential phones, impersonating employees of «Rostelecom,» and extracting personal information under the pretense of renewing a contract.
