Sophos, the IT security and data protection firm has warned Internet users that spammers are using the temptation of offering a free, next generation iPhone to collect email addresses and other personal information. The firm has managed to catch email spam, which invites the recipients to sign up to test, try and keep the much-predicted next version of the iPhone.

Sophos researchers have used avatars of sexy young women and advertized the campaign by promising a 'free iPhone 4G' in an offer, that will be ending today.

If the user clicks the links provided in spam campaign, it takes the user to a website that demands confidential information like name, address, email, contact details and date of birth.

Graham Cluley, Senior Technology Consultant for Sophos shared that though Apple hasn't officially announced iPhone 4G and it may not be released for another few months; there is a lot of buzz on the internet about the same.

He said, “In their excitement, some internet users might blindly hand over their personal information in the belief that they will get a preview version of what will be one of 2010's hottest gadgets. But, being careless with your data, risks exposing yourself to more spam in future and costly identity theft”.