New scam targets iPhone users with remote locking

A new type of scam targeting iPhone users has recently gained traction, allowing scammers to remotely control and lock devices. One victim reportedly lost 4,000 yuan due to this scam, sparking widespread online discussion.

The incident came to light when a victim shared their ordeal on Xiaohongshu. They described how their iPhone, running on iOS 16, displayed a notification urging them to change their Apple ID password. 

Upon interacting with the notification, their phone was immediately locked, and neither their old nor new lock screen passwords worked. After consulting with an Apple technology advisor, it was confirmed that they had fallen prey to a scam.

Despite eventually regaining access to their phone, the victim found most of their data had been erased. 

According to Apple customer service, this scam predominantly targets older iOS systems. They advised users encountering similar notifications to restart their phones immediately instead of changing their passwords.

The story quickly spread, drawing significant attention and comments from the online community. One user mentioned a friend who had suffered a financial loss of 4,000 yuan due to the same scam.

In response to the scam, netizens shared various strategies to prevent such incidents. One user suggested swiping the pop-up notification to the left on the lock screen and selecting 'Clear' to continue using the phone normally. 

To further protect themselves, some users have adjusted their settings to prevent changes to passwords and Face ID by setting "Allow changes to password and Face ID" to "Not allowed" under "Content and Privacy Restrictions," effectively blocking fraudulent pop-ups at their source.