Team Clark is adamant that we will never write content influenced by or paid for by an advertiser. To support our work, we do make money from some links to companies and deals on our site. Learn more about our guarantee here.
Apple is one of the most popular tech brands out there, so it’s not surprising that Apple scams are popular, as well. Criminals have targeted the many devices made by the Cupertino, California-based company in so many ways that consumers need to stay vigilant.
Many of the more sophisticated phishing scams center around stealing Apple IDs, the identity authentication needed to access your devices.
Over the past several years, smartphones have caused many people to let their guard down — so of course scammers are taking advantage of the fact that many people will open just about any text or email they receive on their phone.
In fact, criminals are still finding effective ways to target consumers using many of the same old tactics that have been around for a whole lot longer than smartphones.
RELATED: Warning: New email scam targets Netflix users
There are several attacks making the rounds that are specifically targeting people with iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.
The scam works a couple of different ways:
If you click on the link, it immediately gives the scammers access to your Apple account, including any stored personal and payment information.
In the scam phone call, the caller claims to be from Apple’s support team and tries to trick unsuspecting victims into handing over access to their computer or account over the phone.
One of the more virulent Apple scams involves baiting users to hand over their Apple ID and password.
According to the New York Times, potential scam victims receive an email from “Apple iMessages” — saying that their username and password had been used to gain access to another iPhone.
According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers are sending people an email that appears to be from Apple ID Support, iTunes or iCloud.
It prompts you to download an attachment or click on a link that will then ask you to enter your Apple ID account information — in order to “verify” your account or regain access to your account. In some cases, people have even been asked to provide their credit card and other personal or financial information. Don’t do it!
In October 2018, we told you about incidents in which hackers were stealing Apple IDs and siphoning big money from iPhone users. The scam works by accessing payment information from credit cards tied to iPhones.
The theft happened in China and was reported by mobile payment platform Alipay.
According to Bloomberg, Alipay “warned users that’ve linked their Apple identities to any payment services, including Tencent’s WePay, to lower transaction limits to prevent further losses. Tencent said in a separate statement it too had noticed the cyber-heist and reached out to the iPhone maker.”
RELATED: This text scam will leave you with an empty bank account
Another scam involves “hack attacks” tied to users’ iMessage and Apple ID accounts — and the scam appears on both computers and smartphones.
Users reportedly receive messages, written in foreign languages, to their iMessage account from a foreign phone number. Then they receive a notification from Apple that their Apple ID is being used on another device.
The notification only provided one option — to click “OK.” Then after clicking that button, the user’s iMessage account would be flooded with messages from a foreign number, with text written in Chinese.
If you think your Apple ID may have been compromised, Apple has a resource page with more information.
Read more: 5 ways to make your iPhone more secure
The reality is, there are new threats to your privacy and security every day — so it’s crucial to make sure you take the right steps to protect your personal information.
Bottom line: Even if a message appears to be from a trusted source, don’t trust it!
If you receive a message from an unknown number, delete it! Don’t open it, don’t click anything — just delete it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
If a company needs you to update your profile, you should be able to find that information by logging in to your account separately through the official site — or by calling the company directly.
This post was last modified on January 7, 2019 1:02 pm
If you're considering subscribing to Fubo, you need to be comfortable missing out on some…
Are you looking for a way to earn 2% back on every purchase you make…
You're not alone if you're running a balance on your credit cards. Collectively, Americans are…
A big part of saving money comes down to knowing how to comparison shop. But…
If you work for a big company as a full-time employee, chances are you have…
Are you a Peacock subscriber? You soon will have to pay more to watch NBCUniversal's…