Cases of blackmailing minors via Apple ID and iCloud have become more frequent in Russia. Scammers convince children to log out of their accounts and log in with someone else's credentials, after which they start demanding a ransom, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs' cybercrime department reported.
Victims are usually contacted via messengers and game chats. Attackers pretend to be acquaintances, promise free bonuses, easy money, or use intimate materials for pressure. As soon as a child enters a stranger's Apple ID, the scammers gain the ability to restrict access to the device.
Then the blackmail begins: money is demanded under the threat of iCloud blocking. The Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasizes that such blocking is primarily used for psychological pressure, so criminals should not be paid.
Parents are advised to explain to their children in advance that they should not log into other people's accounts, share their account data, or trust overly lucrative offers on the internet. Children should immediately tell adults about any suspicious messages.
Once the blackmail has started, it is best to stop the correspondence but save messages, screenshots, and other evidence. After that, it is necessary to contact the police – the sooner a statement is filed, the higher the chance of finding the attackers.