Beware! Free Apple products used as lure in text scams

Have you received an unexpected text message on your cellphone telling you that you’re the lucky winner of an Apple product?

Well, I have some bad news for you. It’s not true.

Sorry.

Naked Security has received reports from a number of phone owners around the world who have received SMS text messages in the past few days suggesting that a free Apple product is theirs for the taking:

A typical message reads:

Congratulations, your today’s Apple winner! Go to [REDACTED] and on last page enter code: 2916 to claim your Free Apple Product.

So, what happens if you do click on the link included in the text message?

Well, when I tested the link redirected me via a number of webpages before finally giving me the opportunity to win either an iPad, iPhone 4S, or a MacBook.

I decided to punt for a shiny new MacBook, and I was presented with a ridiculously easy multiple choice question to answer.

But take care…

Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, or drop him an email.