So, your iPhone was stolen. Obviously, you're sad but have to move on, so you file an insurance claim and buy a new phone. After some time, you start receiving worrying text messages from a stranger who claims that they have purchased your stolen iPhone and now have access to all the content you saved on it. They claim they have your messages, saved credit cards, passwords, and even your SIM card, so they intercept all your calls.
However, this stranger doesn't want anything from you . No, they are just a well-meaning person warning you that this iPhone with all your personally identifiable information is about to be sold on the black market and the wise thing to do is to delete it from your Apple ID. You can then wipe your phone without worrying about your data falling into the wrong hands. They may even include instructions on how to remove the phone from your account, in case you're not sure how to do it.
If you find yourself in this situation, don't do it . This person is not paying attention to you, and your personal data is not at risk: this is a scam. In fact, the reason they're desperate for you to remove your iPhone from Find My is because Apple's security features work so well. This is what happened.
How Scammers Use Find My Against You
When you set up Find My iPhone, it doesn't just let you find your phone if it's lost. This feature also automatically enables a security feature called Activation Lock, which binds your iPhone to your Apple ID username and password. Activation Lock cannot be revoked by factory reset: even if a thief deletes your iPhone, they won't be able to set it up without first providing your Apple ID credentials.
This is one of Apple's best security features, ensuring that a stolen iPhone is worth as much as a stylish paperweight. Thieves can't get in without your iPhone passcode or Apple ID credentials, which is why they need you to remove your iPhone from Find My: It's the only way to disable Activation Lock. Once completed, they can factory reset the phone and set it up using their account.
As long as you bind your iPhone to your Apple ID, no one can break into it. Don't listen to aggressive scammers who claim to have access to your personal information: the only reason they may have access to your phone number is because you enabled Lost Mode and may display your number on the screen so others can find you iPhone to contact you.
A locked iPhone is not invulnerable
Now, I don't want to give the impression that an iPhone with Activation Lock is indestructible. It's great for dealing with random thieves who steal your iPhone, but not all thieves are random. Some are smart enough to watch you enter your passcode before snatching your iPhone. If they know your password, they can not only unlock your iPhone but also reset your Apple ID credentials, locking you out of your Apple account.
In addition to Activation Lock, you should also set up Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone. With it, iOS requires Face ID or Touch ID scanning when accessing passwords and keys. After this scan, for some features, iOS will delay any significant changes for one hour when using iPhone in "unfamiliar locations." When the time is up, you will need to authenticate again. Simply put, Stolen Device Protection protects your iPhone from thieves who know your passcode, while Activation Lock prevents forced deletion.
Look, keeping a stolen iPhone in Activation Lock is no guarantee that you'll get it back. In fact, if that iPhone is taken to another country, you may never see it again. But why let thieves get away with it? Leave your iPhone on Finder and let them stare at expensive but useless bounties.
