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User profile for user: Bottlerocket
Bottlerocket Author
User level: Level 1
44 points

iwatch support scam

I'm asking for a friend (truly!) She just got an iwatch. It wouldn't start after charging. Another friend advised her to call Apple Support. She googled "apple iwatch support" and called the number. She tells me she reached a scammer number, who told her that her icloud and Amazon accounts were compromised, and she would need to go to Walgreens, buy itunes cards, and give them the numbers. She did so, and lost a total of $800. Needless to say, buying itunes cards and giving the PIN number to someone over the phone should never be done.


There may be some missing details, but this was the best description I could get from her.


My question is: Has anyone heard about this kind of scam... with fraudulent support numbers and people being asked to buy itunes cards?

Posted on Jan 14, 2021 5:02 PM

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User profile for user: Ferd II
Ferd II
User level: Level 10
104,305 points

Posted on Jan 14, 2021 5:53 PM

FWIW, I never use any search engine to find a support number, and advise anyone I know to always use the official company website for that purpose.


FTC Advise states: Report gift cards used in a scam to the companies that issued the gift cards. Then, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. If the gift card was not purchased from Apple there will be no value in "reporting this to Apple."

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User profile for user: Ferd II
Ferd II
User level: Level 10
104,305 points

Jan 14, 2021 5:53 PM in response to Bottlerocket

FWIW, I never use any search engine to find a support number, and advise anyone I know to always use the official company website for that purpose.


FTC Advise states: Report gift cards used in a scam to the companies that issued the gift cards. Then, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. If the gift card was not purchased from Apple there will be no value in "reporting this to Apple."

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User profile for user: Bottlerocket
Bottlerocket Author
User level: Level 1
44 points

Jan 14, 2021 5:42 PM in response to Ferd II

Thanks! That's helpful. The only part that I found weird, and not understandable, was that she said she googled "apple iwatch support" and got the fraudulent number. I tried to google "apple iwatch support" and I mostly see what appear to be legit numbers. I'll ask her tomorrow more specifics.


Is there any value in reporting this to Apple?


Thanks again

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iwatch support scam

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