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.
HHIKAR wrote:
I just received this exact text. 3/19/2025
Sadly, this really isn’t newsworthy. It’s possible that a million users got the same message from the same criminals. Just delete the message.
Hepzi wrote:
Please please make it easier to get Apple support for fraudulent activity!! It is an amazing baffle to get support at all thru Apple. And if Apple wants to stay in quasi banking business, you really need to up your game on fraudulent activity support. Amazing naivety and stupidity on Apples part….
Apple can’t do anything to stop phishing scams. Neither can Google, AOL, Yahoo, CenturyLink or any other email and text service. At last count, 60% of ALL email is scams of some kind, and text scams are getting up there.
One thing you can do is go to Settings/Apps/Messages/Unknown & Spam and turn on Filter Unknown Senders.
You can also add a 3rd party scam filter such as NoMoRobo or NumberShield.
What Apple can do is tell you how to recognize scams→Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes including phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams
Another great source is AARP’s Fraud Watch Network: https://aarp.org/fwn, which is available to anyone whether an AARP member or not.
Hepzi wrote:
Please please make it easier to get Apple support for fraudulent activity!! It is an amazing baffle to get support at all thru Apple. And if Apple wants to stay in quasi banking business, you really need to up your game on fraudulent activity support. Amazing naivety and stupidity on Apples part….
Anybody that claims to offer scam-prevention services is quite possibly scamming you, and anybody claiming to help you recover money lost in a previous scam is likely scamming you.
And if you did get scammed, ~nobody will offer a refund, as that would result in fake scams scamming for refunds.
As mentioned, silence unknown texts, and/or use an app such as Bouncer to reduce the chatter.
Sending telephone numbers, sending text numbers, and sending email addresses can all be faked, too. This arising from the same reason why blocking scam-related numbers and services that claim to block those numbers doesn’t work.
If you can figure out a why how to reduce these scams, do let everybody know.
And no, licenses and submitting identify proof won’t work, and will backfire. It results in zillions of systems with sensitive info everywhere; a phisher’s dream situation. Yes, it’s been tried.
I got the same as well and I did not click on anything. It came from email address: ro*******ie@hotmail.com
_____________________
Apple Approval Notice
We have noticed that your Apple iCloud id was recently used at "APPLE STORE - CA" for $143.95, paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization. Also some suspicious sign in request and apple pay activation request detected. That looks like suspicious to us. In order to maintain the security and privacy of your account we have placed those request on hold. Your Photos, Data, Bank Information and Cards are at risk. If NOT you? talk to an Apple Representative. Failing may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed. Call +1 8********7 immediately to cancel this charge.
Billing Department:Subscriptions and Billing - Official Apple Support
Have a great day!
[Edited by Moderator]
Hello~ Posting the scammers credentials here only perpetuates their scam. Delete it and move on. Click on below…
~Katana-San~
I got the exact same message. Freaked me out b/c I actually did make a purchase in the Apple Store yesterday.
I suspect that was just coincidental, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.
I got the SAME msg but mine mentions the charge being made on California (I think the CA is California and not Canada 😁). Even with all the scams I always jump a little when I see these things. So invasive
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This is a text message I received. I checked my credit card account and there was no such charge. I sent an email to reportphishing@apple.com along with the screenshot. I then blocked and deleted the #.
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After using a rental car with more tech options than I am familiar with I too received the same text today. 50/50 could be a scam but could also be legit as I just parked the rental car and had been using car play and thought maybe it was something I had to pay for. Called Apple Support vs numbers in scam text. Just a coincidence. Now I know about that scam too. I will add this to all the others.
@ everybody responding.
Please do not post images with the telephone numbers and other contact information, or include your email address at the top of images. To prevent the harvesting of your email address by yet more spammers, and to prevent general distribution of fake "support" numbers, I had to report two posts for editing.
Just got this text today. Glad I came here to check to see if it’s a scam.
Apple Approval Notice
We have noticed that your Apple iCloud id was recently used at \"APPLE STORE - CA\" for $143.95, paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization. Also some suspicious sign in request and apple pay activation request detected. That looks like suspicious to us. In order to maintain the security and privacy of your account we have placed those request on hold. If NOT you? talk to an Apple Representative. Failing may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed. Call +1 866325xxxx immediately to cancel this charge.
Billing Department
Have a great day!
[Edited by Moderator]
try2guess wrote:
I looked up the number that was left for me to call back – 855–775–****
For future reference: When you can a toll-free number they will always see your caller ID, even if you block it.
JNK1984 wrote:
I just received the same text of a charge of $143.95!
DON’T fall for the scam!!!
Yes, you and several hundred million other users, on iPhone, Android Macs and Windows have received it. And you posted good advice. NEVER click a link in an email, even if you think you know the sender; email addresses are very easy to forge.
This is the text message I received yesterday from 1-8******6:
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 (88******43
[Edited by Moderator]
Identifying Phishing Scams in text messages
