The report isn't clear about which remote access software was installed, or how it was done. Instead, this attack was executed by a combination of perhaps a cell intercept, paired with a social engineering attack, convincing the user to install the remote access software. The incident is not one where hacking tools were applied directly to the iPhone, nor applied without an interaction by the phone's user.

How to protect yourself from a similar fraud attempt 'But we aren't seeing any trends of huge incidents of that happening locally or nationally.' 'I think that's probably technically possible,' an FBI official is reported to have said. Pittsburgh Action News also contacted the FBI, saying that the number Francis reportedly dialled is the correct Apple Support one, so it must have been intercepted. According to Pittsburgh Action News, the local bank branch manager said it looks to the bank as though she approved and sent the money to this person.įrancis has reported the incident to the bank, the local police, and the FBI. Reportedly the person then ended the call and Francis appears to have permanently lost almost $1,500. 'And I said, 'What are you doing? You're supposed to be helping me!'' 'He was sending $1,498 - that's what I had in my account - to himself,' says Francis. 'Before I knew it,' she continues, 'he was opening up my Huntington account and I said, 'Why are you opening up my Huntington account?' He said, 'This is where I think they're taking money.'' With that information, the person on the phone persuaded Francis to allow the fraudster to remotely install software onto her iPhone. 'He said, 'They've just charged $5,000 to your account.' 'He said, 'You don't want to waste any time, people from Russia and China are hacking into your account,'' Francis told Pittsburgh Action News.

She says that the call was answered by a woman who took down her information, and then was routed through to someone who warned her about hacking attempts. Xfinity does not have an Apple support division.įrancis then says she dialed the support number on Apple's website which she said she got from her packaging from the iPhone. Donna Francis, of Baden, in Beaver County, western Pennsylvania, says that she initially ignored an incoming call purporting to be from 'Xfinity Apple Support.' When she later called Xfinity directly, the company had no knowledge of her alleged call, and recommended that she phone Apple.

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