Recently, a post of "buying screenshots of the Dynamic Island" has become popular on the Internet, and many netizens have discussed this emerging "business". If you happen to be the owner of the iPhone Dynamic Island, you may find that you can make a lot of money by taking a few screenshots. However, things are far from that simple, and there is a huge scam hidden behind this.
The principle of this scam is actually quite simple, but it plays on people's vanity and curiosity, as well as their desire to make a quick buck. Scammers pretend to be buyers who need screenshots of the Dynamic Island, and post a large number of purchase information on various second-hand trading platforms, creating a false impression that there is a strong demand. Many people saw these posts and thought it was a good opportunity to make easy money, and they responded.
However, this is only the first step in the scam. The crooks will use various reasons to get you to log in to their Apple ID, claiming that this is to verify the authenticity of the screenshots. Once you log in to their Apple ID, the crooks will remotely lock your device and demand a ransom payment to unlock it. Many victims, by realizing that they have been scammed, are already too late and lose a lot of money and time.
The scam succeeded not only because it was cleverly designed, but also because it captured the weakness of human nature. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at the full story of the Dynamic Island screenshot scam, share the real-life experiences of victims, and provide practical prevention guidelines to help you avoid becoming the next victim.
How fragrant is the Dynamic Island?
The Dynamic Island is a brand new feature introduced by Apple in the iPhone 14 Pro and above. This feature takes notifications and interactions to the next level by displaying dynamic notifications for various systems and applications with a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen. The Dynamic Island not only has cool visual effects, but also improves the user's convenience of use, so it quickly attracted the attention of a large number of fruit fans.
The uniqueness of the Dynamic Island feature
The charm of the Dynamic Island lies in its dynamic display and powerful interactive features. With the Dynamic Island, users can view notifications for incoming calls, messages, music playback, and more in real-time without interrupting the current operation. For example, when you're browsing the web, the Dynamic Island will automatically display incoming call information, and you can answer calls or send text replies directly on the Dynamic Island without having to switch apps. This seamless interactive experience makes the Dynamic Island a new favorite of iPhone users.
Why does the Dynamic Island feature attract so many users?
The emergence of the Dynamic Island not only satisfies users' pursuit of new technologies, but also gives people more capital to show off on social media. Having an iPhone with a Dynamic Island not only represents the most cutting-edge technology you are using, but also a symbol of status and status. Displaying screenshots of the Dynamic Island on Moments or social platforms can arouse the envy and attention of others. This kind of psychological demand is one of the reasons why the function of the Dynamic Island is so popular.
The psychological motivation behind the screenshot showing off
In modern society, many people have boosted their social status and self-confidence by owning high-tech gadgets. As one of the most popular smartphones in the world, the iPhone has sparked widespread discussion and popularity with each new generation of new features. As a unique feature of the iPhone 14 Pro series, the Dynamic Island has naturally become the object of user flaunting.
By sharing screenshots to show their status at the forefront of technology and fashion, users who own the Dynamic Island can not only gain the appreciation and recognition of others, but also satisfy their own vanity. This psychological motivation to enhance self-worth through material possession has made Dynamic Island screenshots a hot "commodity".
The unique features and powerful interactive experience of the Dynamic Island have made it a favorite among iPhone 14 Pro users. And this kind of novel and cool function has also given some users the idea of showing off and dressing up through screenshots, which in turn has given rise to the market demand for screenshots of the Dynamic Island. However, it is this demand that provides a breeding ground for scams.
The full scheme of the scam
Create the illusion of a large number of demands
The first step in the Dynamic Island screenshot scam is to create the illusion that there is a lot of demand. Scammers posted on various second-hand trading platforms and social media asking for screenshots of the Dynamic Island. These posts often claim to be willing to pay a premium for iPhone screenshots with the Dynamic Island feature, creating a feeling that these screenshots are very sought-after.
For example, some posts will read: "Buy iPhone 14 Pro Max Dynamic Island screenshots, 20 a piece, 700 per month." "These seemingly simple needs make people feel like it's an opportunity to make easy money, and many people are tempted by it.
Rationalize needs: Make up plausible reasons
To make these claims appear more believable, scammers will come up with seemingly plausible reasons. Common reasons include "online dating needs to save face" or "I want to pretend in front of my friends". These reasons sound plausible and can quickly dispel the seller's suspicions and entice them to contact the scammer.
For example, some posts will read: "Online dating partner wants to see the iPhone 14 Pro Max I use, who has a screenshot with the Dynamic Island, 20 sheets, sincerely want to buy it." "This need may seem harmless, but in reality it hides huge pitfalls.
Initial contact and payment: Pay a small fee first to gain trust
After contacting the seller, the scammer will usually pay a small fee upfront, or even pay in full, to gain the seller's trust. The scammers will pretend to be sincere in buying screenshots and pay for them as agreed. This way, the seller will let their guard down and feel that it is a safe transaction.
However, this is only the beginning of the scam. The real trap is yet to come.
Login Apple ID Trap: Ask the seller to log in to the Apple ID provided by the scammers
Next, the scammers will ask the seller to log in to the Apple ID they provide under various pretexts. Scammers will often say that this verifies the authenticity of the screenshot or to ensure that it is more realistic. Many sellers have let their guard down at this time and think that it is okay to log in to their Apple ID, but they have fallen into the trap of scammers.
Once the seller logs in to the Apple ID provided by the scammer, the scammer immediately changes the password so that the seller can no longer log out of the account. To make matters worse, the crooks will mark the device as lost via the Find My iPhone feature, remotely locking the seller's phone.
Remotely lock the device: change the password, mark the device as lost, lock it remotely
When the seller's device is remotely locked, the phone will become a "brick" and cannot be used normally. The crooks will use this to threaten the seller to pay a ransom in exchange for the opportunity to unlock the device. The ransom amount usually ranges from a few hundred yuan, and some victims choose to pay the ransom in order to unlock their phones as soon as possible.
However, even if the ransom is paid, the crooks will not necessarily unlock the device. Some victims find that their phones still can't be unlocked after paying the ransom, losing money and wasting a lot of time and energy.
The tricks of the scammers are constantly escalating
As people learn more about this scam, so do the tricks of the scammers. They will use more sophisticated technical means and more ingenious psychological tactics to make it more difficult for victims to defend against. Therefore, we need to be vigilant at all times, stay up to date with the latest scams, and protect our devices and personal information.
受骗者的血泪史
The tragedy of Mr. Lee
Mr. Li is a tech enthusiast who recently bought an iPhone 14 Pro Max. One day, he saw a post on the second-hand trading platform, claiming that he was willing to pay 200 yuan to buy a screenshot of the Dynamic Island. Mr. Li felt that this was a good opportunity to make extra money easily, so he contacted the "buyer".
The buyer very sincerely said that he needed Mr. Li to log in his Apple ID to ensure the authenticity of the screenshots. Mr. Li was hesitant at first, but after the other party promised to pay the full amount, he decided to take a risk. However, once Mr. Li logged in to the Apple ID provided by the other party, the phone was immediately locked, and the other party demanded a ransom of 500 yuan to unlock it.
Mr. Li realized that he had been deceived and quickly contacted Apple's customer service, but by this time he had already paid the ransom and lost a lot of money.
What happened to Ms. Zhang
Ms. Zhang saw a post on social media reposted by a friend asking for a screenshot of the Dynamic Island, and out of curiosity and the mentality of making extra money, she decided to give it a try. She contacted the "buyer", who quickly paid a small amount and asked Ms. Zhang for a screenshot.
Ms. Zhang was a little suspicious at first when asked to sign in to her Apple ID, but because the other party had already made a partial payment, she let her guard down. As a result, Ms. Zhang's mobile phone was also locked, and the other party demanded a ransom of 700 yuan.
Ms. Zhang did not pay immediately, but chose to contact Apple customer service for help. Although she managed to unlock her phone in the end, the experience cost her time and energy, and almost lost more money.
Some attempts and coping after being deceived
The transfer unlock is fruitless
Many victims choose to pay a ransom after being locked out of their phones in the hope that they will unlock their phones as soon as possible. However, paying the ransom does not guarantee that the other party will unlock the phone, but it has the potential to make the crooks even more rampant. After Mr. Li paid the ransom, the phone was still not unlocked, and his loss was even greater.
The experience of asking for help from Apple's customer service
Ms. Zhang chose to contact Apple customer service for help. Apple's customer service asked her for proof of purchase and related chat history, and after passing the review, her phone was finally unlocked. Although the process was time-consuming and labor-intensive, she was able to unlock her phone in the end, avoiding even greater losses.
Through these real-life cases, we can see the harm of the Dynamic Island screenshot scam, as well as the victim's psychological reactions and countermeasures after being scammed. These histories not only give us a better understanding of the true face of the scam, but also provide us with valuable warnings.
A practical guide to preventing these types of scams
The Dynamic Island screenshot scam is not only complex but also highly deceptive. To avoid being the next victim, we need to know some practical precautions to increase our safety awareness.
Never sign in to your device with someone else's Apple ID
This is the most important point. No matter how tempting the other person may be, don't sign in a stranger's Apple ID. Signing in to someone else's Apple ID may not only cause the device to be locked, but it may also allow your personal information to be compromised. Remember, protecting your Apple ID and device information is the key to preventing scams.
Be vigilant and don't get carried away by small profits
Scammers often take advantage of people's greed for cheapness to set traps. When you see the message "Screenshot of the Dynamic Island at a high price", stay calm and think carefully about the other party's motives. Don't trust strangers easily because of small profits, and don't trade with them without verifying your identity.
Use two-step verification to enhance account security
Enabling two-step verification for your Apple ID can greatly enhance the security of your account. 2-Step Verification requires two pieces of information to sign in: a password and a six-digit verification code sent to a device you trust. Even if scammers get your password, they won't be able to log in to your account with two-step verification, effectively protecting your device and personal information.
Learn more about common fraud methods to enhance your anti-fraud capabilities
Staying up-to-date on the latest scams is an important part of protecting against scams. Read relevant reports, pay attention to cyber security information, and learn about the common scam methods and routines used by scammers. Only with enough information can you stay vigilant and avoid falling for potential scams.
With the above precautions, you can effectively protect yourself from falling victim to the Dynamic Island screenshot scam. Remember, being vigilant and being aware of security is the most effective way to protect yourself.
Source of this article: ChatGPT
Editor: Li Yeying