How to best combat someone somewhere frequently attempting to change my AppleID password (as evidenced by regular "reset password" account recovery request notifications on all devices)?

Firstly, I don't entirely understand the strategy here. If I click "Allow" on any of these Reset Password notifications I would just be changing my password. How exactly would someone with nefarious intent benefit from that? Do they have a device somewhere that is effectively cloning my device's activity so that if I click allow, it would allow them to change the password? "Change your password" is basically the only advice Apple has been able to give me when I have brought this directly to them.


That being said, I need to figure something out. I think I know how it started (but not in any way that I would have enough information to make an accusation) and that was in going to a cell phone service provider's store and asking a question about my ex's phone that I knew she wanted to answer. The salesperson asked a question that was functionally about paying for something up front or having to wait for the company to do it. Once I answered that it could be done up front, and that it was 4 lines total that we would be switching, the salesperson asked for my cell number and email so that they could tell me when the company offered promos that would benefit our specific situation. I usually give my yahoo from high school for things like this but for whatever reason I have my iCloud email address. I have never received any communication from that salesperson despite the introduction of promos that significantly benefitted our situation (which I took advantage of); on the other hand, these Reset Password notifications started soon thereafter. Again, circumstantial but could be relevant. I'm only including this part really in the case that having shared that specific information makes me specifically vulnerable and could be combatted accordingly specifically.


As I said, when I went to the genius bar or called support, the only advice I've been given is to change my password. Which was already something I had done - it is a very complicated password - and not something that actually solves the problem in any way. At least every other week (but sometimes every day for a week), I get the Reset Password on this device notifications on all my devices at the same time. I always click "don't allow" but the concept that someone is (possibly?) only as far as me mistakenly hitting allow from taking control of my AppleID is more than annoying. I get "An account recovery request was made for your Apple ID" emails most of the times in reference to the requests and the locations/phone numbers in them are all over the country and never the same (assuming VPN?)...


I have multiple devices (computers, 3 phones, ipad, watch, etc.) and they all get the notifications. I have recently switched mobile service providers and am waiting to set up the new phones until I have ideally figured this out and can set them up in whatever new way best solves this.


I'm open to changing my appleID which, while not end of the world level, would be extremely annoying... the amount of things tied to that email address. But that's a last resort.


Would creating new appleID's and making my current one part of a "family plan" and not the admin account help in any way? Or would adding new appleID's to this scenario only increase my exposure/hassle? The three phones serve different purposes (personal, consulting work, writing work/research) and I'm open to having them have their own accounts for ease of organizing contacts and call histories but also don't want to pay for apps I use more than once.


Any ideas?


Thank you.

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Apr 27, 2024 3:34 PM

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Posted on Apr 27, 2024 5:10 PM

Follow the instructions at If you think your Apple ID has been compromised - Apple Support , especially checking for unknown devices and phone numbers linked to the Apple ID.

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6 replies

Apr 28, 2024 2:53 PM in response to SWIMmmy

It’s good to hear you’ve done all that. I always error on the side of caution just in case a troubleshooting option was overlooked.


Based on the screenshot you have now shared and your further explanation, you are getting recovery emails. That info makes a big difference. For account recovery to be started the person requesting it must know your email address and what your trusted phone number is.


You’ll either want to change the Apple ID email address to something nobody else would know, or change the trusted phone number.

Apr 27, 2024 5:11 PM in response to SWIMmmy

I don’t think you are actually being targeted at all. I am wondering however if you once had multiple family members on the same Apple ID. Or to the contrary had used the email your using now on Messages or FaceTime as a send or receive address. I’m thinking this email is somehow associated with more than one Apple ID and that is what keeps flagging the system to change your Apple ID.

Apr 28, 2024 11:22 AM in response to JDW-Dayton

No. I have never been married, had children, etc. let alone had a family plan with multiple accounts. I have had one primary AppleID which utilizes one of the icloud/apple email address options.


The only thing I could ever imagine in regards to other accounts is back in the old old days (ie of scrolling ipods, when you had an account with whatever email you used at the time) when I probably used some old email. In any case, I don't see how that would do what you are suggesting it would do.


To be clear, I am not getting accounts to change my AppleID. I am getting accounts to Recover my Account and I am getting according emails (was this not in the OP?) that those are being requested by [who the **** knows?] using random phone numbers and locations. For example:



I am only protecting the phone number listed because I don't actually think it is related to the person doing this. The other emails include locations in Los Angeles, Texas, Florida, etc. with varying phone numbers.


I can't imagine how the scenario you've proposed fits these parameters.

Apr 28, 2024 11:28 AM in response to shoeluvr13

I did not think it would be necessary to state that I had done all of the relatively obvious things already including, but not limited to, going to apple support directly multiple times (as stated in OP) and going through their system of checks and etc, all of which led to the very unsatisfying not-at-all solution of "change you password" which is, ironically, the same thing the constant account recovery requests are asking me to do.


Clearly, if they are trying to reset my password by sending requests to change it on all my devices the absolutely first logical step would be to see if there is some device I don't recognize on my list of devices. Right?


So, thank you but you have sent me to the same place apple sent me which provides exactly no actual solution to this problem.

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How to best combat someone somewhere frequently attempting to change my AppleID password (as evidenced by regular "reset password" account recovery request notifications on all devices)?

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