How do I prevent scammers from listening to my iPhone calls?

Question

How do I prevent scammers from listening to my iPhone calls?

I was on a phone call, my friend asked about a document I was waiting for, and within 90 seconds, a Scammer sent a threatening text message about the said document and a demand for payment. Clearly, SIRI or an app using SIRI/Microphone is "listening into all conversations". I have shut off SIRI & microphone on all apps that had access.

How to STOP the listening on your devices:

Settings>Apple Intelligence & Siri. AND Settings>Privacy & Security>microphone AND Location services AND Tracking. Check all 4 places to disconnect any and all apps with access.

I have always purchased Apple products because of the safety and security that it markets. Clearly, there is a serious security issue. I was not asked to give permission for access to the microphone for the majority of the apps that were accessing the microphone. It appears that it is "granted automatically". I am a minimalists with regard to apps and careful not to download or use apps that are from certain countries of origin. I am a tech savvy individual, yet, I am still a victim of the nefarious individuals through my Apple technology.

This is illegal in other countries, however USA laws need to "catch up" with the cyber threats we are encountering.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Scammers Listened via Siri/Microphone - 90 sec. later - Scam was texted to me.

iPhone 16 Pro

Posted on Jun 8, 2025 12:43 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 8, 2025 2:51 PM in response to mrokzerder219

Nope, Siri was not listening to your conversation and giving it to a scammer. You will have to look elsewhere. Apps can use the Microphone, but they cannot listen in the background, so that did not happen on an iPhone call unless you were using a third party app such as WhatsApp. You also have no control over the party you were talking to, or whoever was listening to your conversation if you were on their speaker.

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Answer 2

MrHoffman

Level 10

149,419 points

Jun 8, 2025 3:36 PM in response to mrokzerder219

Maybe a carrier problem, or a compromised cellular network system, or — an easier option — a nearby surveillance camera or microphone or similar monitoring. Or — far and away the easiest option — whoever you were discussing this with, or a bystander, texted the threat to you. Whether the motivation there was gaslighting, or some other reason?

Compromising an iPhone is possible but the tooling involved is quite expensive, and if that was the path used here, then your value as a target and the funding available to your adversary puts this matter well beyond what assistance can be offered via forum.

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Answer 3

Jun 8, 2025 3:23 PM in response to mrokzerder219

Siri was not listening through a third party app while you were talking on the phone and giving your recorded conversation to a scammer. Take it however you like.

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Answer 4

Jun 8, 2025 3:18 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

This happened on my phone on one of the main carrier. I was not using a 3rd party app. It was done through Siri or the microphone access granted through Apps part of software. (Please do not place another person in this pathway. I know the other party extremely well. None of what you suggested occurred.)

Sometimes one does not know, what they do not know, until they know what they know.

You were not present, I witnessed the occurrence.

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How do I prevent scammers from listening to my iPhone calls?

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