Phu Tho Police warn iPhone users of iCloud hijacking scams

Phu Tho Provincial Police have issued a warning to iPhone users regarding a scam involving fraudulent application installation services. Scammers are advertising cheap or free “VIP” or “Full” versions of popular apps such as Locket, CapCut, and Canva to lure victims.

The fraud occurs when scammers guide users through the installation process and instruct them to log in to an iCloud account provided by the scammer. Once the victim logs in, the scammer gains remote management control over the device. They can then activate “Lost Mode” to lock the iPhone, rendering it unusable for the owner.

After locking the device, the criminals demand ransom payments ranging from millions to tens of millions of VND to unlock it. Additionally, scammers may use personal data, such as photos and private information, to blackmail victims into paying.