iPhone warning issued after ‘nearly unattainable to dodge’ rip-off detected

Cybersecurity experts are warning iPhone users about a dangerous calendar invite scam that could see hackers access your personal information and bank account

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A warning has been issued to all iPhone users about a crafty new scam that’s virtually impossible to dodge and could result in your calendar app being hijacked by hackers seeking your personal details. Cybersecurity boffins have spotted an uptick in this ploy among online fraudsters, which involves bombarding your iPhone’s built-in calendar app with phoney invites.

Crucially, unlike your email, there’s no way to sift out these spammy calendar requests. In fact, these spam invites lurk in your Apple calendar with the aim of frightening and pressuring folks into surrendering information that could give hackers a way into your device, or worse still, your bank account.

Often, scammers will use the calendar invite to suggest you’ve recently splashed out on a pricey item, or that your phone security is under threat, hoping that users will panic and tap on their phishing link to dispute the payment.

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Given the straightforward nature of this con, cybersecurity specialists are warning the 2 billion iPhone users worldwide against clicking on these dodgy calendar invitations or their accompanying links. As a general rule, it’s always wise security practice to steer clear of unfamiliar or suspect website addresses and links.

The New York Post has revealed that this dangerous scam’s effectiveness stems partly from the fact that these calendar invites bypass Apple’s notoriously rigorous security measures.

These calendar notifications frequently look legitimate, unlike conventional ‘Nigerian prince’ email phishing attempts, featuring invoice order numbers and other details designed to dupe you into clicking a link.

How victims are singled out for this scam remains somewhat unclear, with some specialists suggesting that something as harmless as tapping a pop-up whilst using your iPhone could expose you to calendar spam.

This probably operates by slyly installing a separate spam-laden calendar alongside your regular one after you’ve clicked a suspicious link – something that’s difficult for average users to spot.

In response to queries from iPhone owners inundated with calendar invitations, tech-savvy users on an Apple subreddit shared advice on eliminating these risky notifications.

They recommended: “Rule of thumb is common sense. If they’re using calendar events to communicate with you, they certainly did not hack into your device.”

Other specialists cautioned that users caught up in this scam must to exercise greater caution moving forward, adding: “You need to go into your Calendar subscriptions and remove any that you do not recognize as having subscribed to and then be more careful in opening emails going forward.”