Scammers target children. The first case of fraud against minors recorded in Chashniki district.

Scammers have become more active online, stealing users' Apple account data and remotely blocking gadgets under the guise of free downloads of online games or applications.

For instance, residents of Chashniki District reported to the Chashniki District Department of Internal Affairs that their daughter had fallen victim to internet fraudsters. The girl saw a video on a social network explaining how to install a popular paid application on an iPhone for free. She connected with someone on social media, followed their instructions, and consequently lost access to her phone, effectively turning the gadget into a "brick".

The issue is that when purchasing an Apple gadget, a user registers with Apple ID or logs into an existing Apple ID account, which stores all their data. Even if the phone is lost, with access to iCloud, for example, on a home computer, the owner can remotely block the device, securing the data stored on it.

The scenario employed by scammers is typically the same, emphasized Roman Mizhuy, an operative investigator from the criminal investigation department of the Chashniki District Department of Internal Affairs.

"First, minors are sent a link to a messenger, where they are thoroughly instructed on how to download online games or applications. Then, they are asked to log into someone else's account, and the user loses access to their own data. The fraudsters then demand payment for unlocking the gadget," the law enforcement officer stated.

The attackers demanded 80 US dollars to restore access to the device. Realizing what had happened, the girl informed her parents, who in turn contacted the police.

The law enforcement officer provided several simple recommendations on how to protect oneself and loved ones from scammers.

The first is to never enter your account details on third-party websites or applications. Sometimes, more sophisticated scammers may create copies of well-known websites, where entering your data will result in its permanent loss. It is sufficient to carefully check the URL (link) in the browser's address bar. The official Apple websites for account management and data viewing are: account.apple.com and iCloud.com.

Secondly, do not trust calls or messages from strangers. Especially if they demand urgent entry of account data. Apple will never ask you to log in to your AppleID via a link in an email or SMS. And do not forget about two-factor authentication. It is a friend to any gadget owner, as it will significantly complicate hacking, even if the password falls into the hands of fraudsters.

Parents, talk to your children and tell them about safety rules in social networks and messengers.