Before you buy an iPhone Duo online, watch out for this scam

Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone arena with the launch of the iPhone Duo. While tech enthusiasts are keen to secure the company’s first folding device, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned consumers about fraudulent online schemes targeting eager buyers.

High-profile hardware releases create ideal conditions for scammers to exploit. Knowing that shoppers are desperate to get hold of a premium device, cybercriminals have rolled out fake storefronts that closely mimic Apple’s official design language to trick victims into handing over personal details and money.

Fake discounts and timers

In one English-language campaign uncovered by Kaspersky, a fake website advertised an alleged 25% launch discount on the iPhone Duo. The site listed the 256GB model at USD1,499.25 (~RM6,127) instead of the official US retail price of USD1,999 (~RM8,170).

To rush visitors into making impulsive decisions, the page prominently featured a 30-minute countdown timer. Interestingly, the checkout stage did not request credit card details right away. 

Instead, it prompted buyers to fill in their name, phone number, email and shipping address, claiming that a sales manager would follow up later to arrange payment and delivery.  Kaspersky noted that this setup serves as an opening hook for fraudsters before executing financial theft.

Fake multilingual sites and WhatsApp traps

Kaspersky also identified multilingual portals that let visitors browse device specifications in different languages and choose their preferred currency to place a pre-order. While Kaspersky did not publish live web URLs to avoid directing traffic to active phishing links, the firm did documented three primary types of fake sites targeting buyers.

The first example being the fake website that offers an alleged 25% discount on the iPhone Duo and the 30-minute countdown timer. The second one is a German-language clone which listed the device starting from EUR2,099 (~RM9,569.13). To appear genuine, the website claimed it would redirect customers to Apple’s official storefront, which never actually happens.

The third example is a scam aimed at Portuguese-speaking buyers, a fake storefront called Tecstore attempted to move prospective victims straight to WhatsApp. Visitors were told to submit their email and WhatsApp number simply to check device availability.

Moving targets into private chat channels isolates them, leaving them far more vulnerable to direct manipulation. No Malay-language scam sites have been spotted yet, but scammers are actively targeting regional non-English audiences.

How to avoid getting scammed

The main reason these scams work right now comes down to severe supply shortages. The iPhone Duo is officially on sale in Malaysia with prices starting from RM9,499 for the 256GB variant, but units are virtually impossible to find off the shelf. 

As we previously mentioned, there is no walk-in stock at the Apple Store at The Exchange TRX, while new online orders placed through Apple have seen estimated deliveries pushed back to late January 2027.

If someone promises discounts or ready stock for the iPhone Duo, beware, because it is almost certainly a scam. To stay safe, stick strictly to official channels such as Apple, authorised resellers and major telcos.

Shoppers should also verify domain names carefully to spot spoofed URLs, use virtual cards or secure payment gateways to safeguard banking details and ensure two-factor authentication is active on both Apple ID and financial accounts. As always, if an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.