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81961 a legit apple text message?

81961 sends me a text often now saying “ Your Apple ID Code is: ******. Don't share it with anyone”, is this legit or someone trying to get into my ICloud?

Posted on Jun 29, 2022 2:15 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 30, 2022 8:07 AM

When I receive authentication codes it is to my trusted devices, not via a text so I'm not certain of the exact wording if they request a text to be send to a trusted phone number. After they enter your Apple ID and password, all of your trusted devices automatically receive a notification before a code can be sent via text message to a trusted number. I don't know of a way to have a code sent by text without first notifying all trusted devices or without having a trusted device in their possession.

See the following from Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

If you're signing in and don’t have a trusted device handy that can display verification codes, you can have a code sent to your trusted phone number via text message or an automated phone call instead. Click Didn't Get a Code on the sign in screen and choose to send a code to your trusted phone number. You can also get a code directly from Settings on a trusted device. Learn how to get a verification code.

There may be a method but I don't know of one. To be safe, you may want to change your Apple ID password (they need to enter your password before the code is sent). See: Change your Apple ID password - Apple Support


6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 30, 2022 8:07 AM in response to JUSTMILLY24

When I receive authentication codes it is to my trusted devices, not via a text so I'm not certain of the exact wording if they request a text to be send to a trusted phone number. After they enter your Apple ID and password, all of your trusted devices automatically receive a notification before a code can be sent via text message to a trusted number. I don't know of a way to have a code sent by text without first notifying all trusted devices or without having a trusted device in their possession.

See the following from Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

If you're signing in and don’t have a trusted device handy that can display verification codes, you can have a code sent to your trusted phone number via text message or an automated phone call instead. Click Didn't Get a Code on the sign in screen and choose to send a code to your trusted phone number. You can also get a code directly from Settings on a trusted device. Learn how to get a verification code.

There may be a method but I don't know of one. To be safe, you may want to change your Apple ID password (they need to enter your password before the code is sent). See: Change your Apple ID password - Apple Support


Jul 14, 2022 9:54 AM in response to detamac

I got the same text this morning while I was sleeping, PLUS an email sent to my email address saying that someone tried to reset my password and get a passcode. I most certainly did not do this while being asleep. Everything on Apple's community discussions is saying that this is a scam and don't click on anything within the text and don't use that code for anything. I changed my password and made it sign out of all of my devices. I also checked the Find My app and saw a laptop on there that I did not recognize, but it could not find a location on it so I have it set to erase everything on that laptop the second it is turned on, just in case that's a scammer (there is a possibility it could be my old laptop floating around my house somewhere, but I highly doubt it.)

81961 a legit apple text message?

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