Apple Warns All iPhone Users—Do Not Answer These Calls And Texts

If you own an iPhone, you’re now a target for a new attack that’s surging across the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. If you fall victim, you can lose thousands of dollars in an instant and put yourself at risk. It’s critical you know what to look for.

“Been targeted by the Apple Pay scam?” Consumer Affairs warned Tuesday. “You probably will be. It’s becoming widespread because it creates panic in its victims.”

The attack is simple. A text that seems to come from Apple, alerting you to an Apple Pay fraud, providing a number for you to call and stop the transaction. “Experts say the scam relies on urgency, impersonation, and convincing personal details.” If you do call, you’ll be speaking to a criminal intent on stealing your money.

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The call hander may pretend to be from Apple, but could also mimic a law enforcement officer or a representative from your bank or credit card issuer. It’s always dangerous. It’s never a real number or a real call or message.

Apple warns users: “If you get an unsolicited or suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from Apple or Apple Support, just hang up.” It’s never real. Instead, contact the company using its usual, publicly available support channels.

Apple also advises iPhone users “to report a suspicious SMS text message that looks like it’s supposed to be from Apple, take a screenshot of the message and email the screenshot to reportphishing@apple.com.”

Put as simply as possible, Apple won’t call or text you to warn of an issue. It will not send you a number to call. It will never ask for any codes or passwords. It will never email or message with links or ask you to download software.

And it’s not just Apple, the same is true for Microsoft and Google and other big tech firms. As Google tells its own users: “We will not call you.”

“Apple does not send unsolicited texts asking you to call support or provide sensitive information,” Consumer Affairs says. “Experts say there are clear red flags: Unexpected messages about Apple Pay activity. Requests to call a number in a text or email. Pressure to act immediately. Requests for codes, passwords, or personal information. Instructions to move money or lie to your bank.”

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Apple warns scammers may contact you to warn about “unauthorized charges using Apple Pay,” they will claim “they want to help you stop the attacker or reverse the charges.” They will then direct you to a website to steal your credentials.

But Apple says it “will never ask you to log in to any website, or to tap Accept in the two-factor authentication dialogue, or to provide your password, device passcode or two-factor authentication code, or to enter it into any website.”

You get the message.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

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