50GB of free iCloud storage? This offer is too good to be true

Your credit information is one of the most sought after targets by cybercriminals. They repeatedly try to access sensitive data using a variety of methods.

They are currently also targeting your Apple ID. With a well-disguised phishing email, they contact you in the name of Apple and offer you a supposedly generous gift.

This is how the fraudsters get your data

In the message with the subject “Your iCloud storage is full”, the scammers want you to believe that your iCloud storage has reached its limit. As part of a supposed loyalty program, you would now have the opportunity to receive 50 gigabytes of free storage. If you turn down the offer, your data will supposedly be deleted.

A button that says “Get 50 GB” should take you to the free offer. The link leads to a page with a fake login window. If you register, the criminals will have your login details in their hands. They then ask for your credit card information.

This is necessary to validate your Apple ID; the card is supposedly not charged. If the theft is successful, the criminals can misuse your data and cause you great financial damage.

Although the email is structured quite authentically, there is evidence that reveals it to be a phishing attempt. On the one hand there is the sender address and the impersonal salutation. Of course, the requirement for your credit card details also speaks for this. We advise you to ignore the email and under no circumstances click on the link.

Just put it in the spam folder. It also doesn’t hurt to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple account. This means your account cannot be taken over so easily.

To increase the likelihood that you will fall for the scammers, another phishing email with a similar topic is in circulation. We reveal how you can recognize them and protect yourself in the linked article.

Simple signs: How to recognize every phishing email

A first indication that you have received a phishing email: The email will ask you to confirm personal information or enter it on a website. This Under no circumstances should you comply with the demand. In addition, criminals often use the official logos of the companies they are copying in their emails, but not official sender addresses.

If the sender seems suspicious to you, you should read the email twice. You will often find spelling errors or inconsistencies in German grammar. The attackers usually do not write their own emails, but instead use automatically generated messages or translate known emails with a translation program. But why actually go through all the effort?

What do criminals achieve with phishing attacks?

Phishing is used on the Internet to collect real user data. These can be used to make money when email addresses, names and other information are sold for advertising purposes or passed on in criminal forums. With the data obtained, cyber criminals can also target future phishing attacks more specifically, making their attacks more effective.

Attachments and links contained in malicious emails often introduce malware or viruses to your computer. In addition, you should not simply ignore suspicious emails. Forward it to the email address above and help us report future phishing attacks.

More fraud warnings on netzwelt – stay one step ahead of cybercriminals

But phishing emails are not the only danger lurking on the Internet. In addition to attempted fraud, there are all sorts of viruses, Trojans and malware that can infect your computer. Unfortunately, data scandals are also part of everyday digital life. You can see the five most recent articles on the topic of “fraud warnings” below:

If you want to stay informed about the latest fraud reports, subscribe to netzwelt on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all articles on the topic on the next page.

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