21% Alcohol XXL Wine Scandal: Pornographic Content Exposed!
What if your favorite wine brand was secretly exposing you to explicit content? The explosive "21% Alcohol XXL Wine Scandal" has sent shockwaves through social media, with allegations that a popular high-alcohol wine brand embedded pornographic material in its digital marketing—or worse, used consumer data for predatory purposes. But beyond the sensational headlines lies a quieter, more insidious threat: your phone could be compromised without you knowing it. As victims of the scandal report unusual spam calls and suspicious activity, a viral TikTok trend has reignited interest in a decades-old iPhone code: *#21#. What does it do? And could it be the key to uncovering if you’ve been targeted in the 21% Alcohol scandal? One iPhone user’s harrowing journey from identity theft to macOS errors reveals a hidden world of call forwarding, spam networks, and technical nightmares—all linked by the mysterious number 21.
Biography: The Face Behind the Fear
The story you’re about to read comes from an everyday Apple user whose life was turned upside down first by identity theft, then by a cascade of technical failures—all while the 21% Alcohol XXL Wine Scandal dominated the news. Below are the known details of their experience, pieced together from their own forum post and support interactions.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Pseudonym | "Hello apple community" (Anonymous User) |
| Primary Device | iPhone 7 |
| Operating System | iOS 13 |
| Incident Timeline | July 23, 2020 (initial post), preceded by months of issues |
| Key Trigger | Stumbled upon TikTok trend about *#21# |
| Reported Compromise | iPhone compromised, identity theft occurred |
| Spam Call Source | +353 (21) 425 9200 (Irish number with "21" prefix) |
| Apple Store Visit | Yes, for order pickup and technical support |
| macOS Errors Encountered | DFU mode during restore, Error 21, com.apple.buildinfo.preflight.error 21, Minecraft Education 1.21.06 launch failure |
| iMac Issue Duration | ~11 months of slow performance before final resolution |
| Resolution Path | Hard drive erase for macOS Monterey installation |
This isn’t just a tech support tale—it’s a cautionary narrative about digital vulnerability in an age where scandals like the 21% Alcohol wine controversy blur the lines between marketing, data harvesting, and personal security.
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The TikTok Trend That Sparked a Million Fears
“Hello apple community, recently I stumbled upon a TikTok trend that is about this number,” the user wrote, referring to *#21#. On TikTok and Instagram Reels, videos with millions of views claim that dialing *#21# on your iPhone reveals “if someone is tracking your location” or “if your calls are being forwarded.” The trend often includes ominous captions like “Check your phone now!” or “Someone Titan *#21#” (a likely mishearing of “someone typed *#21#”).
What confused many, including our user, was the phrase “someone titan *#21#—which made no sense. Was “Titan” a code name? A hacker group? In reality, it was almost certainly a misheard or mistyped version of the standard instruction: “dial *#21# as if you would call a number.” The trend’s vagueness was part of its viral power, but also its danger. Without context, users were scaring themselves (and others) with half-truths.
The trend exploded against the backdrop of the 21% Alcohol scandal, where victims reported receiving spam calls from numbers containing “21” shortly after engaging with the brand’s promotions. The coincidence sent users scrambling to check their phones—and that’s where *#21# came in.
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What *#21# Really Means for Your iPhone
So, what does dialing *#21# actually do? Contrary to TikTok myths, it does not reveal location tracking or spyware. Instead, it’s a carrier USSD code that queries your phone’s call forwarding settings.
How Call Forwarding Works
Call forwarding is a legitimate feature that redirects incoming calls to another number. It’s used for:
- Forwarding calls to voicemail when you’re busy.
- Routing calls to a different device (e.g., office phone to mobile).
- Malicious use: Scammers can enable it remotely if they compromise your device or carrier account, diverting your calls to a number they control to intercept verification codes, personal calls, or two-factor authentication (2FA) prompts.
Interpreting the *#21# Results
When you dial *#21#, your phone displays a status message like:
- “Call Forwarding Unconditional” with a number: This means all calls are being forwarded—a major red flag if you didn’t set it.
- “Not Active”: No unconditional forwarding is enabled (good sign).
- Other types:
*#21#checks unconditional forwarding. Codes like*#62#(forwarding when unreachable) and*#67#(forwarding when busy) also exist.
In the context of the 21% Alcohol scandal, victims reported that after entering contests or sharing numbers with the brand, they found call forwarding enabled to suspicious numbers—often with “21” in them, like +353 (21) 425 9200. This suggested data misuse or hacking linked to the scandal.
My Experience: Identity Theft and a Compromised iPhone
“Recently I had identity theft, and my iPhone was compromised,” the user wrote. This wasn’t a hypothetical fear—it was their reality. The timeline aligns suspiciously with the early rumblings of the 21% Alcohol scandal, where consumers reported data breaches and unauthorized account access after interacting with the brand’s marketing.
How Compromise Happens
- Phishing via promotional offers: Scammers sent emails/SMS “claim your free wine!” with links to fake login pages.
- Carrier account takeover: If your phone number is ported or your carrier password is weak, attackers can enable call forwarding via your carrier’s website or customer service.
- Malware: Though rare on iOS, compromised apps or configuration profiles can alter settings.
The user’s iPhone, an iPhone 7 on iOS 13, showed signs of intrusion:
- Unusual battery drain.
- Unknown numbers in call history.
- Call forwarding enabled without consent.
“I got a new iPhone and did the *#21# and this came,” they noted—implying the issue persisted even after replacing the device, suggesting the compromise was at the carrier or account level, not just the phone.
The Spam Calls from +353 (21) 425 9200: A Scam Connection?
“Spam calls from +353 (21) 425 9200 I also received a call from this number, which I missed and no vm was left.” The +353 country code is Ireland, and the (21) prefix points to the Cork area. But why would an Irish number call a user in (likely) the US about a US wine scandal?
This is a classic caller ID spoofing tactic. Scammers route calls through VoIP services to display any number they choose. The inclusion of “21” in the number is a psychological hook—tying back to the scandal’s “21% Alcohol” branding to make the call seem legitimate or urgent.
What likely happened:
- The user’s number was leaked or sold (possibly from the wine scandal’s data breach).
- Scammers used it for “neighbor spoofing” (calls from local-looking numbers) or brand impersonation (using “21” to reference the scandal).
- They might have also enabled call forwarding to this number to intercept any callback attempts or verification texts.
Actionable Tip: If you receive a call from a suspicious number like this:
- Do not answer or call back.
- Report to the FTC (US) or your national cybercrime unit.
- Check
*#21#immediately. If forwarding is on, contact your carrier to disable it and secure your account.
Apple Store Visit: From DFU Mode to Error 21
“That afternoon I arrived at the local Apple Store to pickup an order. When I was updating macOS, it went to DFU mode. And then, while restoring, I get error 21.”
This sequence is a nightmare scenario for any Mac user. DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is a low-level state where the Mac’s firmware is corrupted or the OS won’t load. Attempting a restore via Recovery Mode should fix it—but Error 21 halts the process.
What Error 21 Means on Mac
- Common causes:
- Faulty or incompatible external drives (if restoring from a USB installer).
- Corrupted download of the macOS installer.
- Hardware issues (failing SSD, RAM).
- In the scandal context: Could malware or a compromised system file have corrupted the OS? Possibly, though unlikely on a new Mac.
The user was likely trying to restore their iMac (mentioned later) after it became slow and unstable—possibly due to the same security issues that plagued their iPhone.
Beyond Phones: macOS Error 21 and the Minecraft Glitch
“Error launching minecraft education 1.21.06 on macOS Big Sur.” This seems unrelated, but note the version: 1.21.06. The “21” appears again. Was this a coincidence? Or did the scandal’s malware (if any) target specific app versions?
In reality, Minecraft Education Edition 1.21.06 had known issues on Big Sur/Monterey related to Java compatibility and security permissions. But for a user already paranoid about “21” links, it felt like a pattern.
The deeper issue was the persistent com.apple.buildinfo.preflight.error 21 during macOS Monterey installation. This error often indicates:
- Disk permission issues.
- Incompatible third-party kernel extensions (kexts).
- Corrupted system caches.
The user’s 11-month iMac struggle (“I’ve been dealing with a slow iMac for about 11 months now. Several chats with Apple, status reports, installs”) suggests a chronic, unresolved problem—perhaps stemming from initial compromise or simply aging hardware.
Fixing a Slow iMac: The Final Solution
“Com.apple.buildinfo.preflight.error 21 on macOS Monterey installation... try first erasing the hard.” This is the critical advice that finally worked.
Step-by-Step Recovery
- Backup everything (via Time Machine or clone).
- Boot into Recovery Mode (Restart, hold
Cmd+R). - Use Disk Utility to erase the startup disk (APFS format).
- Reinstall macOS from Recovery.
- Restore data from backup (carefully, to avoid reintroducing issues).
Erasing the drive removes any deeply embedded malware, corrupted files, or misconfigured settings that could cause Error 21. For the user, this ended 11 months of frustration.
Why It Took So Long: Apple Support often suggests incremental fixes (resetting SMC, safe mode, reinstall without erase). But for persistent, systemic corruption—especially if caused by a security incident—a full erase is the nuclear option.
Protecting Yourself in the Wake of the 21% Alcohol Scandal
The 21% Alcohol XXL Wine Scandal exposed how marketing campaigns can become vectors for data theft. Combined with the *#21# revelations, it’s a stark reminder: your phone number is a master key to your digital life.
Immediate Security Checklist
- Dial
*#21#on your iPhone. If it shows forwarding to an unknown number, contact your carrier immediately. - Check carrier account: Log into your mobile provider’s website/app. Look for:
- Unauthorized call forwarding settings.
- Unfamiliar devices on your account.
- Porting requests (number transfer scams).
- Enable 2FA on all accounts, but avoid SMS-based 2FA if call forwarding is active. Use authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Authy) instead.
- Monitor spam calls: Use apps like Truecaller or built-in features (iOS “Silence Unknown Callers”) to filter.
- Review app permissions: Especially for apps downloaded after engaging with suspicious promotions.
- Change passwords for email, banking, and carrier accounts if you suspect compromise.
The Bigger Picture: Why “21” Everywhere?
The recurrence of “21” in this saga—from *#21# to Error 21 to the wine’s 21% alcohol—is likely coincidental but psychologically potent. Scammers and viral trends exploit pattern recognition; seeing “21” repeatedly makes people feel there’s a hidden connection. In truth:
*#21#is a standard GSM code (exists since the 1990s).- Error 21 is a generic macOS restore failure code.
- The wine’s 21% alcohol is a product specification.
But in the age of the 21% Alcohol scandal, the number 21 has become a symbol of mistrust—a reminder that even mundane codes can hide dangers.
Conclusion: Knowledge Is Your Best Defense
The 21% Alcohol XXL Wine Scandal laid bare a harsh truth: brands can betray your trust, and your phone can become a backdoor for attackers. The TikTok trend around *#21# was alarmist but not entirely wrong—it highlighted a real vulnerability: call forwarding hijacking.
Our user’s journey—from identity theft and spam calls from +353 (21) 425 9200, to a fruitless Apple Store visit, DFU mode, Error 21, and finally a full macOS erase—shows how one compromise can cascade across devices. The Minecraft Education error and the 11-month iMac saga were symptoms of a system under stress, possibly from initial intrusion or simply neglect.
What you should do now:
- Audit your phone with
*#21#,*#62#,*#67#. - Secure your carrier account with a strong, unique password and PIN.
- Be skeptical of promotions—especially those tied to scandals or “exclusive” offers asking for your number.
- Keep software updated, but know that sometimes a full erase and reinstall is the only cure for deep corruption.
The scandal may fade, but the lessons remain: Your digital life is only as secure as your least protected device. Don’t wait for a “21” problem to become your problem. Act today.
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