Can an iPhone get viruses?

They are scams.

A virus is a type of malware that works by spreading copies of itself from one infected app to another. Because iOS sandboxes apps, if you installed an app containing a virus, the virus would not be able to spread. A virus that can't spread isn't much of a "virus". Likewise, a supposed "anti-virus" program wouldn't be able to disinfect the phone, and remove viruses, even if the phone had them.

On top of this, a Web site would have no way to scan your phone automatically. So even if iOS was less secure than it is, how would the senders know that you had viruses? They wouldn't – another warning sign of a scam.

Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes including phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

maureenfs wrote:

I regularly receive messages saying that my iPhone12 Pro Max is infected with lots of viruses (different number each time). Is this possible? These messages all seem to be selling virus removers. Is it just a scam way of trying to sell them?

Lies work. Advertisements work. Advertisements that lie work, too.

The perpetrators of these (false) “(3) viruses” advertisements probably get a payment from the advertised products, too.

Ironically, the apps they’re probably offering here are personally-identified metadata-collecting “coffee shop” VPN apps, a class of apps that doesn’t even address the viruses (falsely) claimed to exist. But does do nicely for collecting personally-identified network metadata, the sort of metadata that advertisers and marketeers and others adore.

More generally, most places where you might read words like “virus” and “hacker” should be assumed to be advertising or entertainment, or — as “virus” is now commonly used in recent years — as a report of some software or hardware change the reporter doesn’t understand. Not as actual malware.

Some info, with links to more: Virus Warning! What to do! - Apple Community

And to be absolutely clear, yes, there is malware for iPhone. The malware is expensive, rare, and targeted, based on available evidence.

The messages are scams presented by criminals. Do not interact with the message or the sender. If you are seeing them while accessing a particular website, avoid that website. If you are seeing them during gameplay, ignore that game.

There is no possible way a virus could exist on an Apple device.

A website does not have the ability to "scan" your Apple device. The only thing they can do is identify what device is accessing their website.

Just the act of responding informs the scammer that the random email is "live" and then they share that information with other scammers.

Stay safe by ignoring, reporting and deleting suspicious emails and phone calls.

All the best! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian

No they cannot.

Nor do you need antivirus or VPN to protect the phone. I wish they would clear out the shake oil from App Store

Youre welcome!