We might want to remove that original text message. I wouldn't put it against someone here seeing that URL trying it out and entering their info.......
I kid, I kid....I think.
I kid, I kid....I think.
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Helpp!! [Suspicious messages after phone was stolen]
- Thread starter kateemirandaa
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jeezus, yeah, that's pretty elaborate. here's the side-by-side with the real icloud.com website
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I am helping her, I told her to change her password a bunch of times and secure her account with 2 step verification but she responds with "Good thing they cant get any information on my apple id."
You can only do so much, some people just dont get it.
Im skeptical of any email or text I get that has links, I kind of get a kick out of them usually, trying to pick out the red flags:
Calling it iPhone tracker (???!), adding PM to 24hr time, sketchy non Apple URL, providing a time limit for scary pressure, and then messed up formatting on the "it's from Apple so it's safe!" type message at the bottom
And as bransoj said, the odds aren't so low of just happening to get a user with a lost phone. Apple ID probably came on the screen when they found phone. Create a spoof page, iMessage that user ID on from the phone you found, and wait.
I'll add to the pile and say change that password ASAP. They may not have your credentials but they may be treating themselves to iTunes purchases on your dime.
Calling it iPhone tracker (???!), adding PM to 24hr time, sketchy non Apple URL, providing a time limit for scary pressure, and then messed up formatting on the "it's from Apple so it's safe!" type message at the bottom
And as bransoj said, the odds aren't so low of just happening to get a user with a lost phone. Apple ID probably came on the screen when they found phone. Create a spoof page, iMessage that user ID on from the phone you found, and wait.
I'll add to the pile and say change that password ASAP. They may not have your credentials but they may be treating themselves to iTunes purchases on your dime.
All good advice, which very well could have been lost between the "people got no common sense" and "you need to be smarter than that".
When I was 20, I had my car stereo stolen because I was silly enough to keep my windows rolled down overnight while living in a pretty sketchy apartment complex. The next morning, while staring at my car door hanging open, and wires hanging out from the dashboard, I realized what a dumb thing that was to do. I didn't need some random sarcastic dude to tell me that. I would imagine the OP feels the same way right about now.
You know why? because i cant change it. because of the security questions. and its true even if they get hold of my apple id they cant get anything from it because i dont have a credit card. i just made the apple id to download free apps
It's not your fault that some scumbag stole your phone. It is your fault that you gave away your Apple ID and password. Hopefully you learned a lesson, albeit an expensive lesson.
Anyways thanks guys for your help. I just really don't want those thieves being able to use my phone. i already had the imei blocked so that they cant use it as a cellular phone.
Good! Make it as hard as possible for them.
Also, forget the old Apple id and create a new one. I know its a pain but why have any connections to the old ID especially if you cannot remember the security questions.
I'm pretty sure that the email address isn't really fully revealed on the Activation Lock screen (likely because of these types of potential abuses). Seems like something more was involved there.
The first message you show a screen shot of only asks for your ID. It does NOT ask for your password. Don't read something there that is not.
It asks to verify Apple ID, which usually means to login as that Apple ID, and the page the included link goes to seems to ask exactly for that as mentioned at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/helpp.1953072/#post-22510025
Common scam. Whoever got ahold of your iPhone needed your info to get it taken off Find My iPhone so they can use/sell it, and you gave them the info. Now it's probably being used by some person overseas. It's a nasty scam that prays on innocent phone owners' excitement over thinking that maybe Apple really did find the phone for them. Apple never sends you such texts.
I'm sorry, but lesson learned - don't trust these texts unless you are absolutely sure it is legit. Check online and see if similar cases have been made (and there are many) and check with Apple before giving out personal information.
As some have already suggested, change your info if you haven't done so already, and just be aware to be more cautious.
Edit: just finished reading every post and seems like I'm just late, I'm sorry you lost your Apple ID and your iPhone but at least you'll know how to respond if something like this happens again!
I'm sorry, but lesson learned - don't trust these texts unless you are absolutely sure it is legit. Check online and see if similar cases have been made (and there are many) and check with Apple before giving out personal information.
As some have already suggested, change your info if you haven't done so already, and just be aware to be more cautious.
Edit: just finished reading every post and seems like I'm just late, I'm sorry you lost your Apple ID and your iPhone but at least you'll know how to respond if something like this happens again!
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Still kind of interesting how they were able to contact the user, if it was the same people.
It leaves one question. Is the thief (fool) that stole the phone the creator of the bogus site or is this part of a larger ring of crooks and scammers? I wonder how large of an operation this is....
I recently switched to two step verification and am glad I did.
I recently switched to two step verification and am glad I did.
They send an iMessage and it would be received on any device logged with the iCloud account. Usually people with iPhones tends to have other device.
But how would they know who to send the message to if the device they have is locked?
Maybe he also sent the message with his number? Remember there is an option for that, so if you lost your phone they can call you. I think "lost mode" does this. It's actually very inconvenient.
EDIT: And configured iMessage and FaceTime to be received in the phone number.
Something like that is possible. It wasn't mentioned by the OP though which made me wonder.
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Or maybe OP sent a message to her phone asking them to return it, then they had her phone #, if she had notifications on before she wiped it.
He said he put it in lost mode, which does send the message giving away his number to the thieves.
No, I don't think it does. But OP doesn't seem like a very security-oriented guy. It would not be very wise to give the robber your phone number, but remember he actually believed in the phishing text. Maybe he did it by accident. Or maybe the thief knows him?