Bonita Springs iPhone App Fraud Alert from Sheriff

Sheriff Carmine Marceno is alerting Bonita Springs residents to fraudulent applications on smartphone platforms that can drain bank accounts and steal personal data.

A Washington Post review found that roughly 2 percent of the 1,000 most popular iPhone apps were fraudulent or infected with malware. Apple said it blocked over $1.5 billion in fraudulent transactions, but malicious apps continue to slip past security checks.

The sheriff's office urges residents to check app permissions before downloading, read user reviews, and avoid apps requesting excessive personal information. Apps that promise unrealistic returns or benefits are red flags.