Malicious apps loaded by scammers

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Level 1

4 points

Malicious apps loaded by scammers

I was scammed. Twice. I am an intelligent woman with advanced degrees and a former member of Mensa. Somehow, through what I can only call "magical thinking," I was scammed out of all the money in my account. Then, a second group of scammers led me to believe they were working to retrieve the lost funds, but they were instead siphoning off the thousands of dollars loaned to me to cover my bills.

I have removed all the apps they had me download. But it's the things I don't know about that worry me. How can I be certain that malicious apps loaded by scammers are totally gone?

A factory reset was suggested, but if I back up the phone before resetting, won't it include any hidden apps and reinfect the phone all over again? It seems extreme to perform a factory reset and then have to reenter all the data. Am I magically thinking again?

iPhone 16, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 16, 2025 7:27 PM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,001 points

Jul 16, 2025 10:25 PM in response to karmajinpa

I would search for the apps in question the iPhone either in the App Library or the Hidden Folder:

Find and use your apps in App Library on iPhone - Apple Support

If you can't find an app on the Home Screen on your iPhone - Apple Support

If the apps can't be found, create a backup.

But, factory resetting the phone without using a backup would be the only way to make sure, that nothing else has been downloaded by those malicious app.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings using a computer - Apple Support

Maybe also consider changing your Apple Account password as a first step:

If you think your Apple Account has been compromised - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,001 points

Jul 17, 2025 9:39 AM in response to karmajinpa

Have a look at this article to find out:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Typically iCloud only keeps one recent backup, the new backup will overwrite the last one.

If you back up to your computer, there might be more than one backup to choose from.

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Answer 3

Jul 17, 2025 9:58 AM in response to karmajinpa

karmajinpa wrote:

Just had a thought. Could I restore using a backup from before I was scammed? How can I find older backup files?

Ingo277 is quite correct. you can restore only if you still have that backup. Unless you’re using a Mac and Time Machine for backups or similar, you probably don’t have a backup that far back. iCloud doesn’t keep old backups around without manual steps.

Best assume your Apple Account has been compromised, as well as all of your passwords, and your password recovery paths.

Yours has: If you think your Apple Account has been compromised - Apple Support

(I’m somewhat surprised you still have access to your Apple Account.)

If not already enabled, enable two-factor authentication on your Apple Account, as well as on your banking and other financial accounts.

You’ll also want to review this: Personal Safety User Guide - Apple Support

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