Warning about scams when ordering iPhone 18 Pro.
Fake websites selling iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have appeared before the pre-order date, posing a risk of buyers losing money if they access the wrong site.
Apple will begin pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 12th. This is also the time when users need to be especially wary of fake websites, links, and online stores set up to scam money.
Fake iPhone 18 Pro websites appear early.
According to Alexandre Francois, an expert in the domain name phishing investigation team at WhoisXML API (USA), a provider of cybersecurity intelligence services, fake websites related to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max appeared at least two weeks before Apple's launch event on September 10th.
Some websites even use a "Buy Now" button to entice users to pay for or place a deposit on a new iPhone before the product is officially announced.
After Apple confirmed the names, specifications, and prices of the new iPhone models, it became easier to create a website with an interface and content similar to the official store. Scammers can take advantage of the official information to make fake sites look more credible.
According to Francois, many security tools have identified and warned about these domains, but some sites are still not on the blocked lists of browsers or security systems. This means users can still access dangerous websites if they don't carefully check the address.
You should only buy iPhones from official sources.
To avoid becoming a victim of fake websites, users should order iPhones directly from Apple or authorized Apple dealers.
When purchasing through a dealer or network provider, users should manually enter the familiar website address into their browser, instead of accessing it via links in advertisements, emails, or text messages.
Apple maintains a list of authorized dealers in each country, allowing buyers to verify whether a seller is a legitimate entity.
In addition to checking domain names, users should also be wary of websites that request bank transfers, account information, or offer unusual prices and deals to encourage payment.
Beware of iPhone models that haven't been released for sale yet.
Users also need to clearly distinguish which Apple products are actually available for pre-order in this period.
On September 12th, Apple began accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the foldable iPhone Duo is expected to open for pre-orders on October 16th and begin shipping on October 23rd.
Notably, the standard iPhone 18 is not expected to be released in this batch and may not appear until spring 2027. Therefore, any website currently advertising the sale or accepting pre-orders for the standard iPhone 18 should be viewed with extreme caution.
This is one of the signs users can rely on to identify suspicious online shopping websites.
What should you do if you've already transferred money to a scammer?
The iPhone 18 Pro pre-order period took place over the weekend of September 12-13. According to Francois, processing fraud reports may take longer over the weekend due to many organizations operating with limited staff.
If you discover that you have transferred money to a suspicious account or payment address, you should not wait for a response from the seller but should immediately contact your bank or payment service provider to report the transaction as potentially fraudulent.
Users should also save the website address, exchange content, emails, messages, and transaction information for processing purposes.
As the iPhone 18 Pro officially went on sale, the appearance of fake websites served as a reminder to users not to rush into owning the product early.
Carefully checking the seller and website address before making a payment is a simple but important step to avoid losing money on non-existent products.
