Fraud text as Apple Billing

Yes, I got two of them one minute apart. It’s a phishing attempt. The sender is a scammer.

Apple does not send texts and especially not from an Outlook account.

If you ever have a doubt about a text, call Apple at 1-800-MY-APPLE and they can confirm anything sent. Please contact Apple Support and report it to local law enforcement.

You may also report the scam to the FTC Complaint Assistant.

[Edited by Moderator]

I’ve received 2 of these over the past couple months. One of them was this morning and I immediately checked my charges to be sure this time. The ironic thing is both times I’ve received them, if also been sent a verified email from Apple telling me to make sure my accounts are all safe and add double verification and backup contacts as well for added security. I did google the number that was provided in the text and it’s not showing to be an Apple number either. Plus the text phone number starts with +63 which also verifies it’s not Apple since Apple is based in the U.S.

I would keep an eye on verbiage as well, they might be “smart” but if you look closely at how things are spelled or worded then you can tell it’s someone trying to steal your information.

MenenK wrote:

I got a text today with this message: Notification: $194.90 was charged to your Apple ID via Apple Pay. If this wasn't you, contact Apple Support 87*******42.

The message came from this number: 1-7*****040 which is SE Virginia

Back in the bad old days with copper-wire connected phones if you got a call with caller ID you could be pretty sure it actually came from that number, with a couple of exceptions: If the call was from a business extension the caller ID could be the business main number, or their 800 number. Then Congress decided that this was too limiting, and they allowed businesses and political organizations to display any number when calling. Less savory organizations took advantage of this removal of restrictions, and now anyone (even you) can spoof a phone number when making a call. The bottom line is that the Caller ID display is totally meaningless today. If the call is from someone you actually know it might be correct, but even your friend’s numbers can be spoofed.

Defensive measures:

• Send the call to voicemail (double-press the SIDE button) if you don’t recognize the number; if it is legitimate you can call back
• Never answer “Hello” (that triggers automatic reply bots), instead say something like “who is calling"
• If you do pick up the call, never answer a question (such as “is this Alphonse”) with YES, criminals can record “YES” in your voice, then use it to call businesses pretending to be you
• If the call comes from an unknown number with your area code it is almost certainly a scam
• ALWAYS review bills to identify all of the charges are legitimate.

An example: I got a routine monthly report from my medical insurer that listed all of the charges they had paid; it showed that I didn’t owe anything, all charges had 100% coverage. I read it anyway; one set of charges was from a medical products supply company that I had never done business with, for a product that I didn’t use. I called the insurer, and they quickly determined that it was fraud, and they had seen similar charges on other accounts. So read every statement you get.

Checking Google is really effective anymore. The scammers publish fake posts and Google and AI doesn’t realize it’s bad information and publishes the number as a valid number for Apple etc.

A best practice is to just search for Apple Support contact information. For example call 1-800-MY-APPLE if you’re in the US.

Yup, very much a scam attempt. Do not interact with the message or the sender.

Same text, same dollar amount except mine added used at apple store california. I don't have apple pay set up so that was a big red flag along with the sender-a lengthy asian type name @email. com 100% a scam

YES!! I also was told the same dollar amount ($143.95) saying my Apple Icloud id was recently used at APPLE STORE-CA paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization. Also, some suspicious sign in request and apple pay activation request detected. That looks suspicious to us...blah blah blah. I am so glad that I checked online before doing anything. It was sent by:

raz*******29@icloud.com

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It’s fake. Banks don’t put fraudulent payments through and then ask if it’s you.

Banks stop fraud and then ask if you really, really, really want to complete the transaction.

Do you understand the difference?

Got same and they put in a phone number to call like this +1 80876******

Always check before you call anyone, Google to check out or call Apple directly

[Edited by Moderator]

Ab1605 wrote:

I got same text in last 30 mins for $143.95 trying to purchase in California too

You and millions (literally) of others. Cybercrime is big business. The FBI just took down a website where criminal hackers buy and sell stolen data. It had 5 million users. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/02/whos-behind-the-seized-forums-cracked-nulled/

Ichiban1 wrote:

I just received the same text with same dollar amount

And guess what? It's still a scam.

Yup. I have the same text message from ux************d. The phone number provided is +1 85*********2 and the billing department https://support.apple.com/billing. I looked up my charges and did not see a charge as listed.

[Edited by Moderator]

I received this too. With a email address that ended with @icloud.com definitely scammers.

I got a text today with this message: Notification: $194.90 was charged to your Apple ID via Apple Pay. If this wasn't you, contact Apple Support 87*******42.

The message came from this number: 1-7*****040 which is SE Virginia

[Edited by Moderator]

I just got the exact same text the amount is the same and all!