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User profile for user: Grace123mke
Grace123mke Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

password rabbit hole

I got a message from apple telling me my account is locked. Strange since I changed the password a month ago. No one has it and no one else uses my phone or ipad.


So I tried resetting my password over and over again, About a dozen times. All I got was the message that I had to change my password. Same screen over and over again. Same email over and over again.


The message looks legit not a scam. I always check before using any links --- actually I didn't use the links. I put them into the browser myself.


So around and around I go -- NEVER getting to any screen but the one that asks for user ID "Have trouble logging in"? Insane.


What is going on? I've hated apple for breaking my privacy. I hate that I have to use it because work requires it. I hate people getting my work phone number and email address through apple and google. Android is not an option, unfortunately.


How do I get out of this rabbit hole?

Thanks in advance


Windows, Windows 6

Posted on Oct 2, 2021 10:47 AM

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User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
418,909 points

Posted on Oct 2, 2021 10:56 AM

I got a message from apple telling me my account is locked.

Same email over and over again.


Scams (e-mail, text messages, and phone calls) are getting very good at closely imitating true Apple communications. Always be cautious. Here are some guidelines:


Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/HT201679


Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - https://support.apple.com/HT204759


If you are uncertain about a message and a resource provided in that message, do not click on any links. Try to independently verify the resource by going to a support page on apple.com and use that to contact Apple or to verify the service the message is telling you to use.


Forward email attempts as an attachment (in MacOS Mail use the paperclip icon) to: reportphishing@apple.com then delete it.

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User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
418,909 points

Oct 2, 2021 10:56 AM in response to Grace123mke

I got a message from apple telling me my account is locked.

Same email over and over again.


Scams (e-mail, text messages, and phone calls) are getting very good at closely imitating true Apple communications. Always be cautious. Here are some guidelines:


Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/HT201679


Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - https://support.apple.com/HT204759


If you are uncertain about a message and a resource provided in that message, do not click on any links. Try to independently verify the resource by going to a support page on apple.com and use that to contact Apple or to verify the service the message is telling you to use.


Forward email attempts as an attachment (in MacOS Mail use the paperclip icon) to: reportphishing@apple.com then delete it.

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User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
418,909 points

Oct 2, 2021 10:57 AM in response to Limnos

Here's more, some of which is not in Apple's documents and is therefore nominally deemed 'unreliable' but probably has more specifics for identifying bogus messages. I'll post it separately since it is not part of their official guidelines.


- Apple e-mails address you by your real name, not something like "Dear Customer", "Dear Client", or an e-mail address*.

- Apple e-mails originate from @apple.com or @itunes.com but it is possible to spoof a sender address. "Apple email related to your Apple ID account always comes from appleid@id.apple.com." - https://support.apple.com/HT201356

- Set your email to display Show Headers or Show Original to view Received From. Apple emails originate from IP addresses starting with "17.".

- Mouse-over links to see if they direct to real Apple web sites. Do not click on them as this just tells the spammer they have a working e-mail address in their database. If you are unsure, contact Apple using a link from the Apple.com web site, not one in an email.

- Phishing emails may include account suspension or similar threats in order to panic you into clicking on a link without thinking. They may report a fake purchase in order to infuriate you into rashly clicking on a false link to report a problem. Mar 2018 post by Niel https://discussions.apple.com/message/33129140#message33129140 - "Emails saying that your Apple ID has been locked or disabled are always phishing. If one actually gets disabled, its owner will be told when they try logging into it instead of through email."

- Apple will not ask for personal information in an e-mail and never for a social security number.

- Scams may have bad grammar or spelling mistakes.

- Apple will not phone you unless it is a response to a request from you to have them call you.


* Exception: https://discussions.apple.com/message/33701414#message33701414

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User profile for user: Grace123mke
Grace123mke Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 2, 2021 8:07 PM in response to Limnos

Well, I mistyped. Sorry. It was not a message (as in email) from Apple. What I meant to type was that it was a pop-up on my phone & my ipad.

To get out of the hole, I started with the apple account on my laptop. From there I had more options to click. I got out of the rabbit hole and I still dislike apple. (I carry a torch for the Amiga)


Thanks for taking the time to give a thorough, accurate method of avoiding scams. You covered all the bases and should keep your message and turn it into a FAQ.



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User profile for user: Grace123mke
Grace123mke Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 3, 2021 9:23 AM in response to Limnos

I stopped pop-ups in safari a long time ago. I usually use firefox. I can sync across my hardware.


The message I kept getting was I think to force me into double sign-in for security. This is a pop-up on my phone and ipad when I am not using any software at all. I changed my password less than a month ago. The rabbit hole was to force a 2-layer sign-in. I got an email from apple in my road runner account that i now have 2 levels of security.


Dumbing things down for pre-teens is not efficient for me.

Thank you for your time and brain power. Every response of yours caused me to be more precise.


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password rabbit hole

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