Owners of Apple devices, while protected by the manufacturer from various types of hacking, still remain targets for scammers. Recently, a new scheme targeting iPhone and iPad owners has come to light. Criminals offer to install fake Telegram modifications, and the person signs into an iPhone with someone else’s Apple ID without suspecting what could happen. The scheme exploits not an iOS vulnerability but users’ gullibility — and that’s exactly why it’s easy to protect yourself from it.
iPhone blocked through Telegram: how scammers steal your money and what to do right now. Image: iz.ru
Can You Get Free Premium on Telegram
Scammers use rumors about a possible Telegram ban as bait. In advertisements, they offer to install supposedly enhanced versions of the messenger with a set of attractive features: built-in VPN, anonymous number, incognito mode, and a free Premium subscription.
A tempting offer, don’t you agree? Image: YouTube
Specialists at F6 have identified several such fakes distributed under the names DarkGram, HoloGram, ToxicGram, HakoGram, AstroGram, and Doxogram. None of these apps are available in the App Store — and this is the key element of the scheme.
Through a Telegram bot, the victim is offered to download a mod. Since the app isn’t in the official store, the user is told they need to sign in using a third-party Apple ID — and they’re given the login and password for someone else’s account. The person switches accounts, and their expensive device turns into a fancy brick.
What Happens If You Sign Into Someone Else’s Apple ID on iPhone
As soon as a person links their device to someone else’s Apple ID, the scammers gain full control. They lock the account, and along with it — the iPhone or iPad itself. A message with contact information appears on the screen, followed by a demand to pay for unlocking.
After all the steps, the iPhone gets locked
According to F6, the ransom amount ranges from 10,000 to 60,000 rubles. Technically, this uses Apple’s standard “Find My iPhone” feature (Find My), which allows the account owner to remotely lock a linked device. Scammers simply use this in reverse.
How to Protect Your iPhone from Being Locked Through Telegram
Protecting yourself from such schemes is quite simple and doesn’t require special skills or third-party apps. Just remember a few Apple device security rules that will save not only your nerves but also your money:
- Never sign into someone else’s Apple ID on your device. This is the main rule. Any request to sign in with someone else’s Apple ID is a sure sign of fraud.
- Don’t install apps bypassing the App Store based on instructions from ads or bots. If an app isn’t in the Apple store — it means it hasn’t passed verification, and there’s a reason for that.
- Free Premium, built-in VPN, and an “anonymous number” in one app — a classic set of lures. Telegram does not distribute its mods through third-party bots.
- If your device is already locked, don’t pay the scammers. Contact Apple support with proof that the device belongs to you (purchase receipt, serial number, link to your original Apple ID).
Pay attention to the first point. It specifically concerns changing your Apple ID account in your iPhone settings. Switching your App Store account is still safe and poses no threat. The most important thing is to sign out of your profile specifically in the Apple app store and nowhere else.
Who Is Threatened by iPhone Locking Through Telegram
iPhones are being locked through Telegram to extort your money
The scheme targets people who don’t fully understand how the Apple ID ecosystem works and are willing to believe in an “enhanced Telegram with free Premium.” The greatest risk is for those who are used to looking for ways to bypass App Store restrictions or get paid features for free.
If you only use the official Telegram from the App Store and don’t share access to your Apple ID with anyone — this scheme doesn’t threaten you. But warning your loved ones, especially the older generation, wouldn’t hurt: scammers rely precisely on inattention and haste.
