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If you have one of the best iPhones and use Apple Pay in the U.S., you need to be on the lookout for a new scam targeting users of the popular mobile payment service.
As reported by ConsumerAffairs, this particular scam uses fake alerts to convince potential victims to call the scammers themselves. Additionally, the scammers may include a malicious link in their messages in the hope that targeted individuals will head to a fake site to pay up.
Article continues belowHere’s everything you need to know about this Apple Pay Scam to help you avoid falling victim to it yourself.
Pressuring you to call or click
Like with other scams, this one starts with an unsolicited message — either a text or an email — claiming that there’s a problem with your Apple Pay account. Informing you about a problem and then offering an easy fix is a very common tactic used by both scammers and cybercriminals which makes it something you should always be on the lookout for.
The fake message may say that a purchase was attempted or declined, that your account is locked or under investigation or that immediate action is required or your account will be closed. All of these are common lures used in scam messages and phishing emails though.
What sets this scam apart is the phone number at the bottom of the message. While many people have learned to avoid suspicious links, calling a "support" number feels safer to the average person. Unfortunately, that number connects you directly to a fraudster impersonating Apple Support, a bank official, or even law enforcement.
Once on the line, the scammer will use personal details to build trust before claiming your funds are at risk. They rely on high-pressure tactics to keep you from hanging up and checking your account independently. Their goal is simple: convince you to move your money to a "safe" account, withdraw it as cash, or send it via Apple Cash and gift cards — something which a real Apple employee would ever ask you to do.
The scammer on the other end of the line will then claim that your money is at risk for one reason or another. To get you to trust them, the scammer will often use personal details in the conversation that the average person wouldn’t know. From there, victims are told to act immediately to “protect” the funds in their bank account. This is another common tactic that keeps being reused since instilling a sense of urgency is an easy way to get potential victims to act without thinking.
In order to keep their funds safe, victims are encouraged to move money into a “safe” account, withdraw cash at an ATM or bank or send funds via Apple Pay or Apple Cash. They also might be told to buy gift cards which is a major red flag and a serious sign that something is off since no company (Apple included) would ever encourage its customers to buy gift cards if their account was at risk.
How to stay safe from scammers
Although this new Apple Pay scam might seem easy to avoid on paper, the reason people have fallen for it is because it relies on social engineering instead of traditional hacking. Apple Pay is incredibly secure but that text message from a random number warning you that your account is at risk isn’t.
To stay safe from this and other scams, the first thing you want to be mindful of are unexpected messages. Sure, companies might send you a notification within their respective apps about a problem with your account but doing so via text message is very unlikely.
The other dead giveaway that something isn’t right is that not only are you encouraged to call a number but you’re also pressured to do so. For the most part, you can (and should) ignore random messages from unknown numbers.
If you or someone you know falls for the trap laid out in one of these messages or maybe curiosity just got the best of you, you need to be extremely careful while on the phone. If the person on the other end is asking for personal info, passwords or 2FA codes, hang up immediately and block that number. Other red flags to lookout for include being asked to move money, to lie to your bank or to buy gift cards.
In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to get caught up in what the scammer on the other end of the phone is saying. However, if you stop and think for a moment, you’ll likely realize you’re in the middle of a scam. This is why the scammers behind this new Apple Pay scam try to work so quickly because once you have a second to take a beat, it’s easy to see right through their deception.
When in doubt, you should always check the account in question on your own or contact your financial institution directly using the number on the back of your card. If you get a text saying your account is at risk or a fraudulent purchase was made and then you check and there’s nothing wrong, you’re definitely dealing with a scam.
Although the best antivirus software can protect you from malware and other viruses, it can’t always help with scams, especially those that use social engineering to appear more legitimate. In that case, signing up for one of the best identity theft protection services is your best bet as they provide cyber insurance that can be used to recover funds lost to scams. However, for identity theft protection to pay out, you need to have a policy in place before the fraud occurs, as they won't cover pre-existing losses.
Apple Pay is incredibly popular and used worldwide, so this won’t be the last time we see a scam like this. Ultimately, your best defense isn't a piece of software — it’s your own skepticism. Practice good cyber hygiene, never share a 2FA code with anyone, and always stop and think before handing over your hard-earned money to a voice on the other end of a phone.
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