Security News > 2020 > September > Free Apple iPhone 12? Chatbot Scam Spreads Via Texts
A mobile phishing campaign is spreading via text messages purporting to come from an Apple chatbot - and offering "Free trials" of iPhone 12.
Clicking the link triggers an interaction - via multiple texts - with a supposed "Apple chatbot."
"The scam first shows you some cheery messages from a fake Apple chatbot to tell you why youhad enough luck to be chosen to take part in an iPhone 12 trial, and then it invites youto join in," explained Paul Ducklin, researcher with Sophos, in a posting on Thursday.
The texts culminate with a link - the text reads "Apple.co.uk/2020/promo" - which takes the target to the browser.
Shortened URLs are common in texts from legitimate businesses, so crooks can more easily disguise where a link is going to end up.