I just received a text message as an [Apple Security Alert] stating,
we have noticed that your Apple id was used at “APPLE STORE” for $143.95, paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization.
This appears to be a phishing scam?
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iPhone 13, iOS 17
THANKS FOR POSTING THIS! I just got it too — assumed it was a scam — never had received anything like that before from Apple. But was immediately confirmed for me when I googled about the scam, and you'd put "$143.95" in your post, which is the same amount they had in my scam text. Another way the scammers try to get you: it says, "Failing [to call the number] may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed" So I went straight to all my payment accounts and there were no flags, no charges...then googled the number to see if it was legit — none of the prefixes matched the normal support numbers for Apple. I didn't click any of the links within the text, but typed the apple support url they had, separately into my browser, and that was the correct url, so we know clicking their link within the text would've given them what they wanted — remember, just because it says a legitimate url DOES NOT MEAN it links to a legitimate url, so NEVER click a live link within a suspicious text. Conclusion: sneaky, perhaps getting more subtle and clever, but just another scam, successfully dodged. I hit "delete/report" junk. And will now go update passwords next.
My text said payment was made with Apple Pay to Apple Store and I think mine said $185. (I deleted the text very quickly). And said, if you did not make this payment, call this number (they had a phone number). I checked my bank account and no charge was there, and it would have shown up pretty quickly with Apply Pay.
I just received a similar text but the amount is for 715.49. This is the text message:
Transaction Declined! We noticed your "AppleID" was used at an AppleStore for $715.49. We detected suspicious activites, call +1 80***347 to avoid charges.
I have not clicked or called. I called the number on a land line and it was answered by a person stating "Tech Support." I hung up.
It was sent by a phone +1 2***092.
Agnes
Chicago IL
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Beverly1043 wrote:
I just received a similar text but the amount is for 715.49…\
Millions of these scam messages are sent.
…I have not clicked or called. I called the number on a land line and it was answered by a person stating "Tech Support." I hung up.
You’ll get more scams and more spams having called, unfortunately.
Phone numbers used in this scams will vary.
Sending numbers will vary.
Claimed (fraudulent) amounts will vary.
Payment card fraud procedures do not work at all like this scam claims, either.
This and similar scams will continue to arrive for years, if not decades.
I feel this comment in my soul. The horrific grammar, or sentence structure is always the dead giveaway for me in these text and email scams, even more so than the other suspicious parts! Not that I am a grammar guru by any means but a true message from Apple would NEVER! 😂
Hello~ I had to go back through this thread to find out what you were talking about and found this…
“*TzTerri
I just sent a screenshot along with the email address they used to send to my text messages to reportphishing@apple.com to report it.
But first, I called the number and messed with them a bit.*”
While that garnered upvotes and grins/giggles…it also let the scammers know that they hit upon a valid phone number. Then the real grins and giggles start. Your number will be sold and the uptick in scammers will then began to expand at a horrendous rate. Don’t do it…in fact it is the very last thing you should actually do.
~Katana-San~
🚩🚩🚩It is 3/24/25 and it must be going around again because I got one from a “yar********60@icloud.com” this morning @9:43AM about an Apple Pay pre-authorization for same exact amount “at an APPLE STORE-CA” saying my Apple ICloud ID was used along with some others suspicious sign in requests. Listed the phone number as +180******13, to call to cancel the charge of $143.95. So it is obviously going around again! 🚩🚩🚩
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Got this today: You were charged $171.12 via Apple Pay for a subscription from App Store. Contact apple support team +18***906, if this is unrecognized.
Assuming it's a SCAM??
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jonzoog wrote:
I got the same message. 10 minutes after I made a purchase on the Apple Store. Had all the other people on this thread recently made a purchase? It seems like too much of a coincidence.
It's a coincidence. I have made lots of purchases from Apple and never received one. On the other hand, I get lots of the EZPass balance scam messages.
IdrisSeabright wrote:
jonzoog wrote:
I got the same message. 10 minutes after I made a purchase on the Apple Store. Had all the other people on this thread recently made a purchase? It seems like too much of a coincidence.
It's a coincidence. I have made lots of purchases from Apple and never received one. On the other hand, I get lots of the EZPass balance scam messages.
Got my first-ever EZ Pass scam message this week. A whole barrage of them followed. Different wording. Different links. Different sources. Same scam. Sigh.
The Apple Store scam spam from this thread has been infrequent.
Bouncer app can be helpful for text spam.
SpamSieve app can be helpful for email spam, if a Mac is available.
Phone and SMS are increasingly set to contacts-only locally though, given the volume of spam calls and spam texts. The Apple features Focus and Do Not Disturb are helpful here.
mkmmy wrote:
Just received an alert form, Apple regarding a charge From Apple Store paid by Apple Pay pre-authorization with the phone number 88***321 to call. Is this for real?
All such messages are scams.
If it helps... I just got this today.
"Charge: A charge of $499.19 was made using your Apple Pay account. If you did not authorize this transaction, Call support +1 808 ****** to cancel the charge."
Clearly a scam.
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I got a text message saying this, I didn’t call because I have been scammed before!
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i received the same text today.
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I just got this same text same price of $143.95. Very odd, stay on the lookout!
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I received this text today. So thankful for this discussion board.
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Identifying Phishing Scams in text messages
