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How do I know if emails/text is not a fraud?

How do I know if emails/text is not a fraud? It says that my account is locked and I must update my account. It asked name and phone and then ask my social security number so I back out. Tried to log in to my account....no problem!



[Re-Titled by Moderator]


iPhone 8, iOS 13

Posted on Sep 25, 2020 2:44 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 25, 2020 2:45 PM

  • Apple would not warn of a pending account issue, giving you a deadline to fix the issue. 
  • Apple does not include document, or PDF files to download.
  • Apple would not refer to you as Dear Customer, Dear Client, or anything other than the name on file for your account.
  • Apple would not have such horrible spelling or grammar. 
  • Apple would not send a message to “Undisclosed Recipients”. 


It is a phishing attempt. Do not respond. Do not divulge any personal or financial information. You can use the address below to forward the suspect email message, as an attachment to Apple.


reportphishing@apple.com


If you provided your Apple ID and password at the bogus site, change your password immediately.

  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201355


The links below have information to help identify fraudulent emails.


Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store

 

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 25, 2020 2:45 PM in response to Borwoh04

  • Apple would not warn of a pending account issue, giving you a deadline to fix the issue. 
  • Apple does not include document, or PDF files to download.
  • Apple would not refer to you as Dear Customer, Dear Client, or anything other than the name on file for your account.
  • Apple would not have such horrible spelling or grammar. 
  • Apple would not send a message to “Undisclosed Recipients”. 


It is a phishing attempt. Do not respond. Do not divulge any personal or financial information. You can use the address below to forward the suspect email message, as an attachment to Apple.


reportphishing@apple.com


If you provided your Apple ID and password at the bogus site, change your password immediately.

  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201355


The links below have information to help identify fraudulent emails.


Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store

 

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759

Sep 25, 2020 3:08 PM in response to Borwoh04

stedman1 has given you great information, Borwoh04.


Please allow me to add some “rules of thumb” that will not only serve you well with notices that claim to be from Apple, but will serve you well for all your financial and business-like accounts:

  1. Never click on a link, open an attached document, call a phone number, within any email, text message, or other sort of message unless you are expecting exactly that thing from exactly that source—and even then, best not to, if you have any more secure means!
  2. Instead—if you think it may actually be legitimate (it usually won’t be)—go directly to the financial institution or business, only though your usual and trusted channels—known website, known phone number, etc.—to check on what’s actually going on with your account(s)!


For instance, in this case, you access your iCloud or iTunes or App Store account directly, using only your usual and trusted means, such as applicable Apps on your device, to check out the status of your account.


If the message was legitimate, there will be a message or warning as soon as you log into your account.


No message or warning? You know the original was fake!

How do I know if emails/text is not a fraud?

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