How to Check if My Phone Is Cloned iPhone

What is iPhone cloning and how does it work

There are two main types of iPhone cloning: SIM card swapping and accessing an Apple Account. Both allow hackers to steal your information, but it’s important to know which type you’re experiencing, so you can take action to protect yourself.

In a SIM swap scam, someone impersonates you and contacts your cell provider. They request a new SIM card, put it in their own phone, and then have access to your number—they can send and receive calls and texts as you.

With SIM swapping, someone can clone your phone without you knowing, simply by knowing enough of your personal details to answer your mobile provider’s questions. Hackers often collect this information through email phishing scams, asking for personal data like your address or birthdate.

A hacker could also access your Apple ID. If they know your email and password, they can access your iCloud, Apple Wallet, messages, photos, and everything else that’s stored in your Apple Account.

How to know if your iPhone is cloned

There are a few ways to tell if your iPhone has been cloned. You might see signs that something is wrong. Let’s talk about how to check if your phone is cloned if it’s an iPhone.

Look out for the following signs to find out if your iPhone is cloned:

• Battery drain
• Strange texts or calls
• Increased data usage
• Unexpected Apple ID sign-ins
• Performance issues
• Unknown devices on your Apple ID

These symptoms might show that someone cloned your iPhone, but they could also be a sign of hacking. Find out how to check if your phone is hacked.

As an iOS user, you might think that you’re safe from phone cloning, hacking, and other security risks–after all, people often talk about how safe iOS is. In reality, Apple’s security protections keep you safe from downloading malware, but you’re still vulnerable to other threats. Anyone can be a victim of a data breach, for example, and most of us can improve our online security. That’s where Clario Anti Spy can help. The app’s Data breach monitor alerts you if your details are compromised, and the Anti-spy setup walks you through improving your security and privacy settings.

One customer recently reached out to us with concerns about his security. His battery was draining quickly, and he was worried that there might be spyware on his phone. Our Clario Anti Spy expert guided him through the Anti-spy setup, helping him to ensure no one was monitoring his calls, securing his online accounts, and protecting his documents and images. By the time he’d followed the app’s instructions, he was reassured—and his phone was protected.

How to improve your phone’s security:

1. Download Clario Anti Spy and sign up for a subscription.
2. Under Anti-spy setup, tap Set up.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to keep your phone safe, then tap Done.

1. Unexpected battery drain

Is your phone battery draining faster than usual? This could be a way to tell if your iPhone has been cloned. It can also be a sign of spyware—apps that run in the background and relay your data to hackers.

However, it isn’t a sure sign of a cloned phone. Unexpected battery drain may mean that your phone has been cloned—but it could also mean that you have lots of apps open, or that your phone is older and your battery health is declining.

How to check your iPhone’s battery:

1. Go to Settings > Battery.
2. Look at the information on the Battery page—do you recognize all of the apps listed?

2. Strange texts or calls

Have you received unusual texts or calls, or noticed unexpected activity on your bill? This could be a sign that someone has cloned your SIM and is making calls or sending texts.

Watch for incoming SMS messages asking you to restart your phone. SIM swap scammers need you to turn your phone off so they can register their new SIM.

Check your phone bill for unexpected calls and texts. If you see charges you don’t recognize, this could be a sign that someone cloned your iPhone.

If you hear strange sounds during calls, this could indicate that someone is listening in on you—do you know how to check if your phone is tapped?

3. Unrecognized data usage or activity

Is your data usage higher than usual? This could be a sign that someone else is using your SIM.

Checking your data on your iPhone might not be accurate if someone is using cloned SIM cards. Your iPhone will only show data usage from that device, not from other phones used by hackers. So check your bill to find out the true data usage.

4. Unexpected Apple ID sign-in alerts

Has someone tried to sign in to your Apple Account from a new device? You might receive an email or notification on your phone, iPad, or Apple computer saying that someone has accessed your Apple Account.

If this weren’t you, someone might have unauthorized access to your account—and your personal data.

5. Performance issues and lag

Is your phone running more slowly than usual? Or are you no longer receiving calls and messages? These could be signs that there’s something wrong.

If your phone is running slowly or overheating, there could be an innocent explanation—perhaps your device is getting older, or its storage is full. However, it could also mean that there’s spyware installed.

If you’re not receiving calls or texts, or you can’t make calls or send messages, this could be a sign that someone has cloned your SIM card. The hacker will receive your calls and texts instead.

6. Unknown devices linked to Apple ID

Are there any new devices linked to your Apple Account? This could be a sign that someone else has accessed your Apple ID on another device.

How to see devices linked to your Apple Account:

1. Go to Settings and tap your name.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find devices connected to your Apple ID.

What to do if your iPhone was cloned

Have you gathered enough information to find out if your iPhone is cloned? If you suspect that your phone is cloned or hacked, take action to stop it immediately.

Your first steps will depend on how someone cloned your iPhone:

• Does a hacker have access to your Apple Account? If so, focus on securing your Apple Account, resetting your iPhone, and contacting Apple Support.
• Are you the victim of a SIM swapping scam? If so, you’ll need to contact your cell carrier for support.

1. Disconnect and secure your Apple ID

If someone has access to your Apple Account, the first step is to revoke that. If you can see their device linked to your Apple ID, you can remove it easily.

How to disconnect a device from your Apple Account:

1. Go to Settings and tap your name.
2. Select the device you want to disconnect, and tap Remove from Account.

Next, make sure that your account is secure. We’ll do this by changing your password and setting up two-factor authentication (2FA).

How to change your Apple Account password:

1. Go to Settings and tap your name.
2. Tap Sign-In & Security.
3. Tap Change Password and follow the on-screen instructions to change your password.

2FA offers another level of security for your online accounts. It means that anyone trying to log in to your account will need to use one of your devices. When you sign in, Apple will generate a code and display it on another device—you’ll need to enter this code, along with your password, to log in.

How to set up Two-Factor Authentication for your Apple Account:

1. Go to Settings > [Your name] > Sign-In & Security.
2. Tap Two-Factor Authentication. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up 2FA.

2. Factory reset your iPhone

If your iPhone has been compromised, reset it. This is especially important if you’ve found spyware—a factory reset removes all third-party software.

How to factory reset your iPhone:

1. Go to Settings > General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings, and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Contact your carrier and Apple support

If you’re the victim of a SIM swapping scam, contact your mobile provider immediately. They’ll check whether any new SIM cards have been activated, and can help with account recovery.

If your Apple Account has been compromised, you can contact Apple Support for advice.

4. Report identity theft (if needed)

If someone clones your iPhone, the consequences can be far-reaching. They might have gained access to your financial information, stolen money, or impersonated you to others. Doing any of these things is illegal.

You may want to report this identity theft to your bank—they can help you freeze your accounts and recover stolen money. You can also report the incident to local law enforcement.

Conclusion

It’s important to know your iPhone is cloned as soon as possible—whether someone has access to your SIM or your Apple Account, they could do serious damage to your finances, documents, and reputation. Watch out for unexpected calls or texts on your bill, being unable to receive or make calls, unusual data usage, and new devices linked to your Apple Account.

If someone did clone your iPhone, take action immediately. Contact your cell provider, and disconnect any new devices from your Apple Account. Reset passwords, and contact your bank if your accounts have been compromised.

Keep your phone safe with Clario Anti Spy. The app’s Anti-spy setup can improve your security, helping you to secure social media accounts, emails, and even phone calls. And, should your details be compromised, the Data breach monitor will alert you, so you can take action to change passwords quickly.