Apple Warns All iPhone Users—Do Not Answer These Calls And Texts
If you own an iPhone, you’re now the target of a new attack that’s spreading rapidly in the US, Europe and elsewhere. If you become a victim, you can lose thousands of dollars in an instant and put yourself at risk. It’s very important that you know what to look for.
“Have you been the target of an Apple Pay scam?” Consumer Affairs He warned on Tuesday. “It probably will. It’s becoming more common because it creates panic in its victims.”
The attack is simple. A text that appears to be from Apple, Warning you against Apple Pay scamsprovides a number to call and stop the process. “Experts say the scam relies on urgency, impersonation and convincing personal details.” If you call, you will be talking to a criminal intent on stealing your money.
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The caller can pretend to be from Apple, but can also impersonate an Apple. law enforcement or a representative your bank or credit card issuer. It’s always dangerous. This is never a real number or a real call or message.
Apple warns users: “If you receive an unsolicited or suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from Apple or Apple Support, hang up.” It’s never real. Instead, contact the company using its public support channels as usual.
Apple also advises iPhone users to “report a suspicious SMS text message that appears to be from Apple, take a screenshot of the message, and email the screenshot to reportphishing@apple.com.”
To put it as simply as possible, Apple won’t call or text you to alert you to a problem. It will not send you a number to call. It never asks for any code or password. It will never send emails or messages with links or ask you to download software.
And this doesn’t just apply to Apple; The same goes for Microsoft, Google and other big tech companies. As Google tells its users: “we will not call you.”
“Apple will not send unsolicited messages asking you to call support or provide sensitive information,” Consumer Affairs says. “Experts say there are clear red flags: Unexpected messages about Apple Pay activity. Requests to call a number via text message or email. Pressure to take immediate action. Requests for codes, passwords or personal information. Instructions to move money or lie to your bank.”
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Apple warns that scammers may contact you to warn of “unauthorized charges using Apple Pay”; They will claim that they “want to help you stop your attacker or reverse the charges.” They will then redirect you to a website to steal your credentials.
But Apple says it will “never ask you to sign in to any website, or tap Accept on a two-factor authentication dialog box, or enter your password, device passcode, or two-factor authentication code, or enter them on any website.”
You got the message.
This article was first published on: Forbes.com
