iPhone users on urgent alert as thieves use ‘reset’ tricks on smartphones, Apple powerless if it happens

Experts warn that thieves use simple tricks to steal everything from people’s iPhones.

The allegation follows a series of police reports of stolen Apple smartphones in which victims’ passcodes were covertly monitored and used to reset settings, rendering them irreversible.

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Investigators from the New York Police Department said the victim had found his phone stolen in a public place such as a bar, after which his account was locked.

The thief obtains the passcode and then resets the victim’s Apple ID password in the Settings app.

Then turn off Find my iPhone to prevent the owner from tracking the iPhone or remotely wiping the device.

Scammers can also remove other devices from your account and set recovery keys to prevent victims from recovering their data.

In one case, a thief found a photo of the last four digits of the phone owner’s social security number and opened an Apple Card.

Former New York Police Department detective Alex Arjiro told The Wall Street Journal that the crime had become a favorite of local scammers.

He said: “Once you get into the phone, it’s like a treasure chest.

“Crime is on the rise.

“This is a very opportunistic crime.

“Everyone has a financial app.”

In response to the surge in theft, an Apple spokesperson said the company has “worked tirelessly” to prevent emerging threats.

A spokesperson said, “We sympathize with users who have experienced this and take all attacks on users very seriously.

“We will continue to increase our protections to keep user accounts safe.”

Can iPhone users protect themselves?

Experts are urging iPhone owners to use Face ID or Touch ID in public to prevent snooping and prying eyes.

We also recommend covering the screen when entering the passcode if the user has not enabled that feature.

Switching to an alphanumeric passcode is also an option and can be done in the Settings app.

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