Apple Approval Notice text message scam

prachikashyap wrote:

I received the same message today, and I’m glad my first instinct was to check Google. I’m also pleased they used the exact same amount. The message came from e********19@icloud.com.

[Edited by Moderator]

Large botnets of compromised accounts and compromised servers are sending out millions of copies, and these botnets are routinely forging sending email information, and are routinely varying the content of the mail messages.

The message contents are further altered as response rates change, too.

These operations are well-automated businesses, and with lots of (“borrowed”) resources available to them.

This is not some person living in East Overshoe Harbor that’s sending out a couple of copies using their PC.

landenandpeyton wrote:

It is 2/19/2025 and this exact text was sent to me at 9:09am CST. So the scam is still running! Same amount and all.

And it will continue to run until the scammers stop making money.

Jetaime77 wrote:

The funniest thing about the text I received was it came from a gmail address🤣🤣🤣. Seriously!

The "You haven unpaid tolls" messages that I get always seem to come from a Yahoo address. These are so common that my state's EZPass website has a big banner warning people about them. It's been there for a couple of years.

I got this message today by text, with a different phone number to call. But, it immediately raised red flags because it came from a hotmail.com account. I'm pretty sure Apple doesn't do business through hotmail email.

CocoaBean2018 wrote:

Received this same text scam today from h*******@hotmail.com

Tell your friends and neighbors about this scam.

Let them know about this scam and the many other scams get massively spammed every day, and "sent" from different telephone numbers, and with different email addresses included.

The exact same thing happened to me too this morning. I called them. Thank goodness I didn’t give them any more info than the dollar amount. I did read the text message to them so they verified my number received the scam message. The guy (“Richard” with a thick Indian or Pakastani or whatever accent) tried getting my name and user ID. When I started questioning him hard (I could hear someone taking to him in the background) he put me on mute (I believe to get instructions from the person I could hear). Thankfully I hung up on him then did internet search on this text and brought me here. I wish I’d done this first and I hope they don’t try to hack into my bank account. And, I think this all started with my new Windows 11 operating system on my laptop. Also got NordVPN which I’m not sure if it gives easier access for hackers to send malicious links or redirect to bad web sites. I called them back and another Indian answered the phone and I told them I knew this was a scam and would be reporting them.

Received today on 3/3/25 via text from ap******3@icloud.com

Apple Approval Notice

We have noticed that your Apple iCloud id was recently used at "APPLE STORE - CA" for $143.95, paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization. Also some suspicious sign in request and apple pay activation request detected. That looks like suspicious to us. In order to maintain the security and privacy of your account we have placed those request on hold. Your Photos, Data, Bank Information and Cards are at risk. If NOT you? talk to an Apple Representative. Failing may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed. Call +1 81*****86 immediately to cancel this charge.

Billing Department: Subscriptions and Billing- Official Apple Support

Have a great day!

[Edited by Moderator]

I also had received a message like this in text. I got suspicious immediately. The messenger said, "Apple Approval Notice: We have noticed that your apple iCloud id was recently used at "APPLE STORE - CA" for $143.95, paid by Apply Pay Pre Authorization. Also some suspicious sign in request and apply pay activation request detected. That looks like suspicious to us. In order to maintain the security and privacy of your account we have placed those request on hold. Your photos, data, bank information and card are at risk. If NOT you? talk to an Apple Representative. Failing may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed. Call +1 828215**75 immediately to cancel this charge. Billing department: Apple billing website"

I want to post this here in case anyone had a similar message as me so they know that it is a scam message. Thank god I didn't interact with the message.

@Smorris825 I checked under General and Language and Region as you mention above, and yes under Region example there were the same amounts. That is the "example" of how the format will appear, not actual charges against anything. So the phone is not compromised, the scammer is using a default standard apple example to fool the targeted user into thinking the charges are valid. Do not call or turn over account information of any type.

If you get a text like this, take a deep breath—it’s almost certainly a scam. Genuine Apple messages won’t use odd grammar or push you to call sketchy numbers. Instead of calling, forward the message to reportphishing@apple.com and check your account through Apple’s official website or app. Stay safe and don’t share any personal details!

Hope this helps.

I got the text today.

Most suspicious thing, it is coming from a hotmail account.

hotmail is run by Microsoft. I am sure the security team at Apple would use a Microsoft based account.

The wording was almost identical to the message that ronalee59 posted.

Mine says an "Apple iCloud id" and the phone number is different, but besides that it is almost the same.

I keep these people on the line as possible. I kept one going an hour last week. I figure every minute they're talking to me is less time they have to scam someone else. My mom was plagued by these people when she was alive so I have no mercy for them.

Devinalford44 wrote:

I keep these people on the line as possible. I kept one going an hour last week. I figure every minute they're talking to me is less time they have to scam someone else. My mom was plagued by these people when she was alive so I have no mercy for them.

Love it!

Devinalford44 wrote:

I keep these people on the line as possible. I kept one going an hour last week. I figure every minute they're talking to me is less time they have to scam someone else.

I once flustered one so much that he apologized.

Akhterali wrote:

Hi whoever charge my account

that’s not me please revoke that amount and notify me soon as possible

appreciated

tra***@msn.com

There were 16 pages in the thread when you added your post (17 now), ALL explaining that the message you got was Not from Apple, it was a SCAM.

Please, please read at least some of the thread you are about to post to; usually it will make posting unnecessary.