THe secondary place is to check with Apple's service to verify if the claim does exist. E.g., if the message says your account has been disabled, try to sign in and see if that is true. Criminals are getting very good at imitating Apple messages. Start here about recognizing phishing and scams —> https://support.apple.com/HT204759
Read this article about identifying real App Store and iTunes Store emails --> http://support.apple.com/HT201679 Sometimes the only indication in a communication is very subtle. Have a look at this thread. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255639814 It can be very hard to tell from a communication alone if it is authentic. The best way to check is to use an independent way through Apple's own resources to confirm what the communication claims. Scams (e-mail, text messages, and phone calls) are getting very good at closely imitating true Apple communications. Always be cautious. These support articles have some guidelines:
More information about scams:
Apple Cash --> https://support.apple.com/HT208226
Gift Card Scams --> https://support.apple.com/gift-card-scams
If you are uncertain about a message and a resource provided in that message, do not click on any links in the message. Use an actual apple.com resource to independently verify what the message is claiming, or use an Apple device feature such as Settings or an Apple app. To ask Apple, start at this web page: https://www.apple.com/support/ If you wish to investigate links, this post by contributor MrHoffman describes how you can do that —> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255879312?answerId=260997158022 (the link takes you to the end of the post so scroll up a bit).
- Do a web search for any telephone number being provided. See if it is listed on an actual real apple.com web page as a contact method.
- Apple won’t warn you about disabling an account. You will find out when you try to sign in.
- 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.
- Apple e-mails address you by your real name, not something like "Dear Customer", "Dear Client", or an e-mail address* However, having your actual name is not proof this isn’t phishing. Compromised databases may have your name and address in them.
- 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 ." (From an older version of: 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.
- Apple will not ask for personal information in an e-mail and never for a social security number.
- Scams frequently have bad grammar or spelling mistakes.
- Apple will not phone you unless it is in response to a request from you to have them call you.
* Exception: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8483395?answerId=33701414022#33701414022
“If you receive a suspicious link to a FaceTime call in Messages or Mail, email a screenshot of the link to reportfacetimefraud@apple.com. The screenshot should include the phone number or email address that sent the link.”
Forward email phishing attempts as an attachment (in MacOS Mail use the paperclip icon) to: reportphishing@apple.com then delete it.
When this is with regard to a supposed purchase, this Apple article --> https://support.apple.com/HT201382 has relevant information and web links for checking if you really have made a purchase or paid for a subscription. Purchases made under Family Sharing might be charged to the organizer's card but will not appear under the organizer's purchase history or subscriptions. Ask family members about those or check your receipts. Apple will email a receipt to the Family Organizer if a purchase is made on a card held by the Family Organizer. This will have the Apple ID of the purchaser, which you should recognize, but won't have specifics about what was purchased.
