Scammers Target iPhone Duo Buyers With Fake Sites
Kaspersky has identified numerous fraudulent websites impersonating Apple that sought to capture payment and contact details from buyers of the foldable device.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Security firm Kaspersky has identified numerous scam attempts targeting buyers of Apple's iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone. Fraudulent websites in multiple languages replicated Apple's visual style to collect payment data and contact information from victims.
Why it matters
Scammers tend to target flagship device launches because hype creates urgency that reduces buyer caution, especially when a product sells out quickly. Victims who paid on the fake sites lost money and exposed their credit card information.
Fraudulent multilingual sites let users choose a language and purchase currency, and a Portuguese-language offer asked victims for WhatsApp-linked phone numbers and email addresses. Scammers moved conversations to WhatsApp to gather contact details, though the number of victims reached remains unreported.
The players
Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Moscow that publishes threat research on phishing and online fraud campaigns.
Apple
Apple is a US technology company that designs the iPhone and other consumer electronics and sells them through its own stores and websites.
The details
Fraudulent websites copied Apple's visual style and offered the iPhone Duo at a discount, using countdown timers to pressure buyers into paying quickly. Users who entered payment details on these sites had their money and credit card information stolen.
Timeline
October 23: iPhone Duo goes on sale and sells out in a very short time, creating the conditions scammers exploited.
Market Landscape
Launch-period scams follow a documented pattern in which fraudsters exploit scarcity around sold-out flagship devices, a pattern Kaspersky's threat research has tracked across consumer electronics. The iPhone Duo, as Apple's first foldable smartphone, gives scammers a high-demand product that draws buyers into fake storefronts.
Shoppers hunting for a sold-out device should buy only from Apple's official site or authorized retailers and be wary of countdown timers and unusually deep discounts. Entering card details on a lookalike site can lead to direct financial loss and exposed payment data.
The takeaway
Urgency is the scammer's main tool, so a countdown timer or a sold-out product should prompt you to slow down and verify the seller before paying. Check that the web address matches the retailer you intend to use.
Further reading
For more on the gadgets driving these buying frenzies, see Consumer Electronics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Vermilion.
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