Smartycashback fraudulent charges on credit card through Apple Wallet on Dec 04, 2024.

I have been charged 25 dollars from Smartycshback on my credit card through Apple Wallet. It is a subscription so will be a recurring charge. I have never heard of Smartycashback and never signed up for anything like that. I have called my credit card compney and they said that transaction was through Apple Wallet and they will replace my credit card. When I asked my credit card compney how Smartycashback would access my info, they said it has to be through Apple Wallet since payment originated there. Since my credit card was canceled it has been removed from my Apple Wallet, my question is will next month's charge be on the different default credit card I have attached to my Apple Wallet since it is charging from Apple Wallet?

Posted on Dec 4, 2024 7:30 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 25, 2025 3:01 PM

MargretEmma wrote:

Since the charge came through Apple Wallet, it’s possible that if you have another default card linked, the next payment attempt might be routed to that card. However, if the original subscription was tied specifically to the canceled card, it might fail automatically.

Nope that is not the way it works as the charge is to a specific bank of the card used and it makes no difference if the card remains in the Wallet or not. It is not your Wallet that is being billed and it certainly is not Apple billing you either. What many don't realize is that credit card companies use Automatic Billing Updaters to transfer subscriptions to a new card when the previous card is cancelled. The transaction must be specifically blocked by your bank, not just issuing a new card number.


If you would like more information about Automatic Billing Updaters, I can provide it to you. Each PNO(Mastercard, VISA, American Express, etc) have their own name for it, but the results are the same. Your subscriptions from participating merchants will be transferred to your new card number.


A merchant has no access to any other card in your Wallet and there is no chance that another one is going to be billed. The OP did get the issue resolved and now understands how the charge occurred and was able to successfully cancel it. You can see the information by reading the posts here.


The information you provided is simply not accurate. What is correct is that if you do not see the subscription listed in your Settings, then it does mean it is one not being managed by Apple, but you are wrong that contacting Apple in that case is a "good step to prevent further charges". The first thing that must be done is to attempt to contact the merchant and if unsuccessful, you then have to dispute the charge with the payment method being billed. In no case does that involve Apple at all and Apple will not be able to block any further charges.

36 replies

Dec 4, 2024 9:07 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff, thank you for the info. I checked the subscription from the link you provided, charges are not on there. I had never heard of this service until the charge appeared. Since it is not showing up in Apple App Store purchases history it must be through SmartyCashBack, the funny thing is I don't even have a user ID or password for their website because I have never signed up for it, lol.

Dec 4, 2024 12:09 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

Jim,


Thank you very much for all of the useful links. Link from the eBay community helped a lot.


Indeed, clicking on agree without reading 200 pages of terms & agreements is my fault and the fault of the other 100s more who did the same thing through eBay and that post clearly mentions that.


Fuuny that no one is talking about how sneaky compney like Smarty work with eBay to promote basically legal scams where there is no visible subscription notice up front when accepting. It is like Netflix offering 1 dollar a month subscription and writing "it will cost 100 after 3 months" on page 127 line 23 on the terms and agreement document in size 10 font.


End of the day I do agree that we need to be more careful when agreeing on any legal documents. At least, noticed the charge early and with your help will not end up with another charge next month. I have also read on other forms that even after canceling they were still charging the card so hopefully I do not have to deal with that.

Dec 4, 2024 12:21 PM in response to Harsh_Kaneria

Awesome! I don't fault you for not reading the 200 pages of Terms, we all do need to be careful on what we click though. There are many scams that profit just by users not knowing what they are clicking on.


Even for legitimate companies like Walmart, there stupid app has a pop up for their WalMart+ service that pops up anytime you use the app in the store and just by tapping a button that you think will make it go away, it signs you up for a year subscription to their service. They have my card details because I do like to use Walmart Pay so I don't have to use my physical card in a terminal, but I do have to be careful every time I open the app.

Dec 13, 2024 11:20 AM in response to Harsh_Kaneria

This just happened to me today on my kids phone and I called Apple Cash and they told me to change my password and passcode. They gave me the number to smartycash but no other help. My daughter never signed up she didn’t even have her phone at the time of the purchase. I don’t want to call smarty cause I feel like it’s a scam. Especially if I give more information. Just wish there was an easier process to not get this charge again.

Feb 24, 2025 1:31 AM in response to Harsh_Kaneria

I also got scammed, for spending a mere week in the US :D

I wrote to them, seekign refund!

----


Hello, 


I just realised, you had booked 25 $ also in january. I never signed up for a Smarty Plus. 

I did NOT EVEN have an account to Subscribe at first place. . 

despite this, how come SmartyPlus got access to my Apple count & put me into Subscription and deduct 25$ also in January. this is a Mystery. 


Kindly refund the entire amount taken out from my Apple Account.  25 $ ( Jan'25)+ 25$ ( Feb'25. 


Thanks

Feb 28, 2025 1:05 PM in response to ladashia192

Review the information that has already been provided. You made an online purchase and chose to save some money and the offer included a subscription to SmartyCashBack. The trial period was probably 30 days, so the purchase was probably made a month ago and you are now seeing the first subscription charge. Cancelling is done by using the link you see in this thread. What payment method are you seeing the charge?

https://www.joinsmarty.com/help/how-do-i-cancel-my-account/

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Smartycashback fraudulent charges on credit card through Apple Wallet on Dec 04, 2024.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.