Scammers have started using a new extortion scheme under the guise of employers: during "interviews," they block applicants' iPhones and demand money for unlocking.
The scam scenario is as follows: fraudsters post job advertisements in Telegram channels, most often in the field of SMM or other remote work. After a response, the candidate is scheduled for an interview, which takes place in a messenger or via video call. At first glance, everything looks legitimate – job responsibilities, skills, and working conditions are discussed.
Next, the "manager" asks to install a special CRM program, supposedly for work processes. They suggest installing it through someone else's iCloud account, as the application is allegedly not available in the App Store. After that, the candidate is asked to disable Face ID or password – under the pretext of setting up access.
After performing these actions, the device is blocked, and a message appears on the screen demanding money for unlocking – usually several thousand rubles. The scammers claim that the police will not help in such cases and insist on urgent payment.
Even contacting Apple support does not always yield results, especially if the owner does not have documents confirming the purchase of the device. As a result, the iPhone becomes completely inoperable – a "brick."
Experts warn: never enter someone else's iCloud data on your device, do not disable Face ID or password protection at the request of third parties, and do not install applications from unverified sources.
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