Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I receive an email that someone used my Apple ID to make a purchase. I received the receipt and it stated to click cancel if I didn’t make the purchase which I didn’t. How can I cancel this and make sure it doesn’t happen again?
iPhone XR, iOS 13
Has your credit card been charged? Are you sure the message is legitimate? Does it contain a link for you to sign in somewhere? It may be a scam. Check your purchases history.
Apple will always address you by your name or the name they have on file for you, not Dear Customer, Dear Client or by using your e-mail address. The e-mail will be from @apple.com or @iTunes.com. E-mail addresses can be spoofed. You can go to Mail/View/Message/Show all Headers to see more. Apple e-mails will never contain an attachment. Apple will never request personal information by email such as Social Security numbers, your Mother’s maiden name or full credit card numbers .
The only exception to the above I have noticed is if you order something from the Apple Store (apple.com), your receipt will be addressed to Dear Apple Customer. That is a receipt for a purchase you initiated.
Avoid phishing emails, fake ‘virus‘ alerts, phony support calls, and other scams.
Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store.
Send the e-mail to Apple as an attachment to a new e-mail before deleting it. You can forward as an attachment by going to Mail/Message/Forward as attachment. Or control - click on the email and select Forward as attachment. Make sure you send it as an attachment to a new email. If you just forward it, it will probably be rejected. You won’t receive a response.
Has your credit card been charged? Are you sure the message is legitimate? Does it contain a link for you to sign in somewhere? It may be a scam. Check your purchases history.
Apple will always address you by your name or the name they have on file for you, not Dear Customer, Dear Client or by using your e-mail address. The e-mail will be from @apple.com or @iTunes.com. E-mail addresses can be spoofed. You can go to Mail/View/Message/Show all Headers to see more. Apple e-mails will never contain an attachment. Apple will never request personal information by email such as Social Security numbers, your Mother’s maiden name or full credit card numbers .
The only exception to the above I have noticed is if you order something from the Apple Store (apple.com), your receipt will be addressed to Dear Apple Customer. That is a receipt for a purchase you initiated.
Avoid phishing emails, fake ‘virus‘ alerts, phony support calls, and other scams.
Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store.
Send the e-mail to Apple as an attachment to a new e-mail before deleting it. You can forward as an attachment by going to Mail/Message/Forward as attachment. Or control - click on the email and select Forward as attachment. Make sure you send it as an attachment to a new email. If you just forward it, it will probably be rejected. You won’t receive a response.
I think it is an attempted scam.
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 a scammer, then
Change your Apple ID password https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201355
Here is What to do [before] or after you change your Apple ID or password https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204071
Increase/learn about security
See If you think your Apple ID has been compromised https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204145
Increase the Security of your Apple ID https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201303
iCloud security overview https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202303
Ways to keep your information safe on Mac https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mh11402/mac
Information on Phishing, etc.
See If you see apple.com/bill, itunes.com/bill, or an unfamiliar charge on your statement https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201382
See Identify legitimate emails from the App Store or iTunes Store https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201679
See How to avoid scams when using Apple Pay to send and receive money https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208226
For scam related information from Apple including reporting scams to Apple see Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus' alerts, phony support calls, and other scams https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759
Apple ID used by someone else
