Kaspersky Warns: Fake iPhone 18 Pro Stores Are Stealing Shoppers' Money and Card Details
By Aboki Forex —
Scammers are using fake iPhone 18 Pro discounts and pre-orders to steal shoppers' money, personal details and bank card information, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned. The company said its experts found fraudulent websites advertising the devices in several languages, including English, Arabic and Portuguese.
The schemes target consumers eager to secure Apple's latest smartphones, using convincing storefronts to make fraudulent offers appear legitimate, according to kaspersky.co.za.
Inside the fake stores
One website identified by Kaspersky advertised an iPhone Pro at a 25% discount, displaying product specifications to strengthen the impression of a genuine online shop. The platform offered several payment options and encouraged customers to pay with Bitcoin. Kaspersky said the polished interface was designed to lower shoppers' defences, persuade them to submit personal information and convince them to transfer funds. The promised bargain could leave buyers with financial losses instead of a new device.
A second fraudulent website offered iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders in several colours, including an option Apple had not officially announced. The supposed seller told customers they could pay part of the price upfront and settle the balance later, and promised a full refund if buyers cancelled their orders. During the process, shoppers were asked to provide their full names, phone numbers, email addresses, cities of residence and WhatsApp contact details. The website then requested bank card information, bringing personal and financial data together in the hands of criminals.
Why the data matters
Kaspersky said the collected details could support social engineering schemes, in which fraudsters manipulate victims into revealing additional information or taking actions that compromise their accounts. For buyers, the danger extends beyond paying for a phone that never arrives.
Olga Altukhova, Kaspersky's senior web content analyst, said fraudulent offers regularly emerge around major device launches. "Consumer excitement can give cybercriminals an additional advantage and improve their chances of profiting," she said.
How to protect yourself
Altukhova urged shoppers to buy only through official or trusted retailers and treat unusually generous offers with caution. Product selections that differ from manufacturers' announcements, including unexpected colour options, should also raise suspicion.
Kaspersky advised consumers to verify websites before entering personal or payment information, checking web addresses and the spelling of business names carefully. It also recommended using dedicated virtual cards or payment services to reduce exposure of primary banking details when shopping online. Security software that identifies phishing links can provide another layer of protection. Enabling multi-factor authentication and monitoring accounts for unauthorised transactions are additional precautions.
What it means for Nigerian shoppers
For Nigerians considering an online iPhone purchase, the warning is straightforward: verify the seller before chasing the discount. A professional-looking website, instalment offer or refund promise is no guarantee that a deal is genuine.
The iPhone 18 Pro runs on Apple's new A20 Pro processor, featuring a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and Dual 16-core Neural Engines.