Have you ever received what you think is an Apple spam email? If so, this article will help you identify and avoid such unsolicited emails from scammers claiming to be Apple and what to do to report them.
How to Tell if an Apple Email is Spam or Whether I Have Actually been Hacked?
Just like with other big other online accounts that contain your personal and financial information, like PayPal and Netflix, scammers will also try their “best” to steal the same from you pretending to be Apple.
What is more, you will probably receive more Apple spam emails, text messages and fake browser pop-ups than for anything else.
For instance, you’ve probably seen a “virus found” message like this at least once or twice.
This is meant to scare you into thinking that you have a virus on your computer or mobile phone, but if you click the “Scan Now” button, hackers on the other side can use that to steal your information or take control of your device.
Okay, that one was easy, but that’s not always the case so here are some tips to easily detect and avoid an Apple spam email, phishing attack, or other scam attempts from hackers pretending to be from Apple:
- The sender’s email address doesn’t match the company (in this case Apple.com) that it says it’s from.
- The message looks different from other emails you have received from that company. Be sure to compare, side-by-side the font, colors, layout, images, logos, etc.
- The URL in the message doesn’t match the company’s website. To be sure about this, never click the link, which might take you to a phishing website or worse, but hover your mouse over it to reveal the destination link.
If you can’t see the link when you hover your mouse over it, go to your Safari status bar, select “View” and click “Show Status Bar”. Now when you hover over a link, it will show in the bottom left.
- The email is asking for your personal or financial information, including your Apple ID, social security number, login credentials, credit card number, or other information.
- The message is unsolicited (you never contacted the company in your life) and contains an attachment. When this is the case, never let your curiosity get the better of you and open or download the attachment.
You should also check out these tips from Apple.
Why are Scammers Sending You Apple ID Password Reset Email Spam?
If you’re an Apple user, you probably received an Apple ID reset email spam message a couple of times. If you haven’t, you just haven’t been using Apple long enough.
What’s the deal? Why are fraudsters so insistent to steal your Apple ID?
They do this because:
- Apple ID is used to log in to all your Apple devices, including your Mac, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPad, etc.
- When buying apps from the App Store, the Apple ID stores your payment and shipping information necessary to do this.
- Apple ID is required to access your iCloud. iCloud is the place where you can store your photos and other files. If a hacker gains access to these, they can try to blackmail you.
- Finally, Apple ID can be used to access your security settings.
How scammers might try to trick you into resetting your Apple ID password?
Fraudsters will try different tactics and tricks to get you to reset your Apple ID password or otherwise give it to them. Here are some examples:
- “We have temporarily disabled your Apple ID”
This message, or similar to it, is meant to trick you to click the link in order to verify your Apple account. However, the link will not lead to Apple.com, but to a phishing website designed to steal your data.
- Fake Apple ID receipt order
Another fake Apple spam email you might get is the one where the fraudsters will try to make you think that you or someone else has purchased something using your credit card.
Knowing that you didn’t order anything, your first reaction will (so the scammers believe at least) will be to try and cancel the order and to do that, they will leave an attachment with a link to where you need to go.
This link will then lead you to a phishing webpage, where you will be prompted to leave your personal and financial data, like login credentials, address, SSN, credit card number and so on.
- Apple ID fake phone calls and text messages
Although we are talking more about Apple spam email here, we should also mention two other ways scammers will try to get your Apple ID.
Phone calls and text or SMS messages.
In the case of the first, scammers will use a spoofed phone number, which will show on your phone screen as they are really from Apple, complete with the logo, Apple’s homepage address, address and Apple customer support number. All to make it very authentic-looking.
The only problem with this is that Apple will never call you on your phone for any reason.
Another way fraudsters will try to trick you using your phone is by sending you a text or SMS message, saying something like “Your Apple account is now locked. Please complete the form below to get access back.”
Again, just like with any other scam messages, don’t reply directly or click the link they provide you, but instead, go to the settings on your device if you ever need to do something like update your password or payment information.
How to Report Apple Support Spam Email?
To report a phishing email that is made to look like it is coming from Apple, send the email to reportphishing@apple.com. You can also forward the email from Mail on your Mac device. In this case, be sure to select the message and choose “Forward As Attachment” to include the header.
If you’ve already entered your password or other information on a fraudulent web page and only realized later, change your Apple ID password right away by going to:
Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security.
And that’s pretty much all you need to know to protect yourself from Apple spam email and other malicious attempts to steal your personal and financial information by someone claiming to be from Apple. Keep your eyes open and don’t fall for their tricks!