received an email from apple asking for my social security number? is this a scam?

Apple would never ask for your personal information via email, and would also never ask for something as private as your social security number, either. Do not respond to the email.

Read this article for help on how to avoid future malicious emails like this and to find some ways to take action if you’re affected, from Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759

Yes, someone is trying to scam you. Apple does not send such emailss.

Did you provide any potentially damaging information to anyone? If yes, you'll need to follow up, for example, with a credit card company, Apple, your bank, etc.

If you gave you Apple ID password to the scammer, then

Change your Apple ID password https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201355

Here is what to do after you change your Apple ID or password

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204071

And, here is some information on how to "Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus'

alerts, phony support calls, and other scams:" https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759This

read also provides information on how to "report phishing attempts and

other suspicious messages to Apple."

Here is another read that covers scamming. It deals with the App and itunes Stores,

but it also has more general applicability https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201679

Apple does usually send email receipts, however I wouldn’t be quick to trust it, seeing how you say that you’ve been received scam emails from “Apple” before.

You can check your purchase history on your iCloud account. Keep in mind that these instructions are for iOS/iPadOS.

Go to Settings>Tap your name at the top of the list (iCloud account)>iTunes and App Store>Apple ID>View Apple ID>Purchase History.

Assuming that you only have the one iCloud account to receive emails from, that should be able to verify if the email was authentic or not. If you don’t find that $19 purchase, then it’s fake, or your account’s been compromised if you don’t know of anyone making that purchase. You can always check the history on your card that you paid with, with your proper bank’s services.

There are other methods, but this is would I do usually.