Is the 'Verify' SMS with a 6-digit passcode request for my lost iPhone legitimate?

Definitely not legitimate!

It is a scam, presented by a thief or dishonest finder who wants to get into your iPhone, and use it for themselves, or sell it to some other person.

Do not be surprised if you or your contact person receive other "phishing" messages asking for your Apple ID and Apple ID password, once the scammer figures out that they will need to enter those things to get past the "Locked to Owner" screen.

Do not give the scammer any credentials. Have your backup contact person delete the scam texts without replying to them.

"Is the 'Verify' SMS with a 6-digit passcode request for my lost iPhone legitimate?: [...]Is it legit? I already declared the phone lost, requested for data deletion, but kept it in my Find My app.[...]"

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No. That is a scam.

Report this Message:

You can report phone call and message info to Apple and others (such as the FTC and the Internet Crime Complaint Center). Use my User: Using the Photos App to Report Scams - User Tip