Authorities Warn of Systemic Threat via Apple Video Calls. Every iPhone Owner is in the High-Risk Zone
A new generation of social engineering is targeting built-in iOS services.
A new generation of social engineering is targeting built-in iOS services.
Fraudsters have begun actively using FaceTime video calls to gain people's trust. This was announced by Sergey Gavrilov, Head of the State Duma Committee on Property and a member of the National Financial Council of the Bank of Russia. He stated that the service's popularity has grown amidst restrictions and slowdowns of calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, and criminals are taking advantage of this: many users have switched to iOS's built-in video calling, and the face-to-face format reduces critical perception.
The scheme usually revolves around an alarming pretext—a "suspicious transaction on your account," an "attempt to hack your account," or a "check regarding a case with your data." The victim is then asked to switch specifically to FaceTime: "it's safer this way" and "this way you'll see I'm a real employee." Then, social engineering kicks in: the person is persuaded to share their screen. At this moment, the scammers gain access to one-time codes, bank push notifications, and login/password hints. There is another scenario: during the video call, they show "documents"—supposedly an ID, a badge, or an official letter. On camera, this looks convincing, and people often start following instructions unquestioningly. Sometimes, they send an invitation link to a "conference," disguised as a notification from a bank or government agency, after which the conversation and pressure begin immediately.
The danger of this scheme is heightened by the fact that FaceTime uses end-to-end encryption. This is a plus for the user, but for investigators, it's an additional complication: it's harder to quickly obtain call data, investigations are delayed, and the criminals count on speed—the faster they can transfer money or apply for a loan, the smaller the chance of stopping them.
Law enforcement agencies and the Bank of Russia have repeatedly warned: banks, government structures, and law enforcement agencies do not conduct investigations via FaceTime. Official notifications come through the bank's personal account, the government services portal, or in writing. If it concerns money, verify the information only by calling the bank's phone number listed on your card or their official website. Any suspicious FaceTime invitations can be blocked and reported to Apple Support.
Scammers quickly adapt to modern services: today it's FaceTime, tomorrow it's another video messenger. Treat unexpected video calls critically. Even if the person on screen has a confident voice and an "official" uniform, it's safer to end the call and double-check everything through independent channels than to give in to a convincing imitation and lose your savings.
