A surge in scam websites is targeting consumers eager to purchase Apple's newly launched iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo models. These fraudulent sites often appear convincing, with fraudsters reportedly using AI to mimic genuine retailers and offering devices at prices substantially lower than official figures.
Security researchers have observed a significant increase in domain registrations containing keywords like "Apple" and "iPhone" around the launch of new models. Alexandre François, an intelligence company investigator, noted that domain registrations referencing new iPhone models typically peak on launch day, with over 200 new domains registered within 24 hours.
These scam sites may claim to offer early access or cheaper prices for the new iPhones. The iPhone 18 Pro officially starts at £1,199, and the 18 Pro Max at £1,299. Fraudulent sites often insist on payment via bank transfer, which removes the consumer protections available with debit and credit card payments.
Consumers are advised to be wary of sites offering the standard iPhone 18, as only the iPhone Duo, 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max have been announced. Legitimate websites will offer various payment options, including debit and credit cards, and Apple does not operate lotteries or recruit phone testers.