Online Scams Surge as Fake iPhone 18 Pro Deals Claim Sunken Cargo Origin

TEHRAN: Cybersecurity experts and consumer watchdogs have issued urgent warnings following a flood of suspicious online advertisements offering unreleased “iPhone 18 Pro” smartphones at drastically discounted rates, deceptively claiming the devices were salvaged from a sunken cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz.

The advertisements, primarily circulated across various social media channels and unverified e-commerce portals, entice potential buyers with promises of premium Apple devices at a fraction of standard retail prices. Tech analysts quickly debunked the listings, pointing out that Apple has not manufactured or announced an iPhone 18 model, rendering the claims a sophisticated fraudulent scheme designed to steal funds through advance-payment tricks and phishing operations.

The incident highlights a growing wave of digital fraud across the region, where cybercriminals construct elaborate narratives around maritime salvage and disrupted supply chains to deceive unsuspecting consumers. Experts caution that fraudulent vendors are increasingly leveraging automated social media networks and fake storefronts to execute cross-border financial scams while evading international regulatory oversight.

Telecommunication authorities and digital safety advocacy groups are advising the public to exercise extreme caution, avoid transferring money to unauthorized sellers, and report suspicious listings to national cybercrime authorities. Law enforcement agencies across the Gulf region have reportedly initiated digital monitoring efforts to trace the financial channels associated with these fraudulent listings.