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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?
[Edited by Moderator]
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.
SuzyQ4762 wrote:
I just got a text Apple alert recently use Apple Store for 154.95 and there is a phone number to call .
It is a scam. Do not call the number. Report the text as junk.
Go to Settings/Messages (Settings/apps/messages in iOS 18) and turn on Filter Unknown Senders.
you can also add a spam blocker such as NoMoRobo
I just got this same text scam, so I just wanted to post for the awareness of others.
I just received the same text of a charge of $143.95!
DON’T fall for the scam!!!
jamesfromwinston salem wrote:
Got at 1:15 today that a purchase of 163.70 was made using my Apple ID. If this wasn't right I was to call 866-xxx-xxxx.-----------Scam?
Still a scam.
Me Too - first checked my apply card and no charges on it - then logged into my apple account to check charge history - the give away was the from phone number was from the Philippines (+64) - but the website in the test was legit - never called the provided phone number because that would give them a legit calling number for me - boy they are getting good
I looked up the number that was left for me to call back – 855–775–****–support.apple.com/billing in the amount one 143.95. I turned off my phone setting to not show my Caller ID and when I called that number it rang about 10 times and then a male answered with “Apple Support” and the line was very noisy. I just said sorry I called the wrong number and hung up so I never did click on the link or anything because I have become super suspicious of emails like this.
[Edited by Moderator]
try2guess wrote:
I looked up the number that was left for me to call back – 855–775–****–support.apple.com/billing in the amount one 143.95. I turned off my phone setting to not show my Caller ID and when I called that number it rang about 10 times and then a male answered with “Apple Support” and the line was very noisy. I just said sorry I called the wrong number and hung up so I never did click on the link or anything because I have become super suspicious of emails like this.
It's a scam. Delete it and move on.
I keep getting these messages:
“Critical Alert: Spam taking over your phone? Your iPhone is under attack. Resolve it here: 901b43k.irilemo.info”. I have reported it at least a hundred times! What do I do to get rid of them? Please help me!
Millions of people get it; these scams are a major business, bringing in $billions to the perpetrators. Here’s an article about it→https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/01/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-prolific-voice-phishing-crew/
TiredOfDishonestApple wrote:
This is the text message I received yesterday from 1-850-xxx-xxxx:
Your Apple ID was used to make a $155.90 purchase at the Apple Store via Apple Pay . If you didn't authorize this, call Apple Support at (888) xxx xxxx
::SIGH:: Didn’t you read ANY of the posts in this thread. That is a SCAM MESSAGE and is not from Apple. And neither phone number is Apple’s. If you call either one you will be tricked into handing over the keys to the kingdom; essentially your Apple ID & password, thus giving away all of your private information and risking bricking your iPhone.
[Edited by Moderator]
I just got the same text from a strange email address: When I called the 802 number, the guy on the phone said the 143.95 charge was going to a dark website — basically causing panic. He then told me to download the Connectwise Control app — that has a really poor user rating and he would walk me through the steps on how to remove hen hacks. Regardless I’m letting my credit union know to be on the look pit for any charges out of state. I didn’t give the guy a lot of information.
MaxMom322 wrote:
I just got the same text from a strange email address: When I called the 802 number, the guy on the phone said the 143.95 charge was going to a dark website — basically causing panic. He then told me to download the Connectwise Control app — that has a really poor user rating and he would walk me through the steps on how to remove hen hacks. Regardless I’m letting my credit union know to be on the look pit for any charges out of state. I didn’t give the guy a lot of information.
If you provided remote access into it, the contents of your Mac were probably pillaged. There's not a whole lot you can do about un-pillaging whatever was done there, other than restoring a backup from prior to the access, and changing all of your passwords, including your email server passwords, and your Apple Account passwords.
Without intending offense, you need to work on your skepticism, too.
"DARK WEB", "HACKER", "VIRUS", anything you're reading that includes any of those words is best assumed to be a fraud, a scam, or entertainment, until proven otherwise.
I too just received this text on 1/15/25:
Your Apple ID was used to make a $155.90 purchase at the Apple Store via Apple Pay . If you didn't authorize this, call Apple Support at +1 (8*8) **9 ***2
Upon copying & pasting the text here and noticing the typo of the space after Pay before the period tells me everything I need to know that this is a bs scam.
[Edited by Moderator]
iHolly43 wrote:
I too just received this text on 1/15/25:
Your Apple ID was used to make a $155.90 purchase at the Apple Store via Apple Pay . If you didn't authorize this, call Apple Support at +1 (8*8) **9 ***2
Upon copying & pasting the text here and noticing the typo of the space after Pay before the period tells me everything I need to know that this is a bs scam.
[Edited by Moderator]
Yeah, there’s the “pervert” and other sextortion scams, the “(3) viruses detected!” scams, the so-called “pig butchering” and other romance scams, your “arrested” relative needs help making bail, incessant barrages of two factor code account take-over scams, endemic counterfeit devices on offer, and all sorts of bogus bills.
Reddit has an endless supply of example scams: https://reddit.com/r/scams
Welcome to 2025.
PS: Apple recently renamed Apple ID to Apple Account, so there’ll be a brief fleeting moment when the Apple scams are really easy to pick out. Until the scammers catch up with the new name.
Identifying Phishing Scams in text messages
