Text message about unauthorized payment: Is it legitimate?

Hello~ This is a well known scam. Just scammers doing what scammers do. Report it, delete it or both and move along with your day. Don’t interact with any scam messages at all…period. I treat any unfamiliar message as a scam until I can prove otherwise…sad but true.

See below…

Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes including phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

It is scam and really is that simple. Apple never sends out any such message and certainly would not be providing you a number there to contact them, which is exactly what a scammer would do. There are many different scams going around claiming an Apple Pay charge was made at some location, and that is simply to scare you and they are hoping you will believe them and call that number where they will ask you for your account information. That is really all they want in order to compromise your accounts.

Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes including phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

Good job in detecting a scam, Babitz. 👍🏼

Some key points in a scam:

1. The messages never mentioned you by name (they don’t know it).
2. Suspicious accusations (claiming you have made a purchase when they have no physical access to your device).
3. Threatens the transaction will proceed or other urgent excuse in an attempt to get a reaction. (Transactions happen immediately between your account and your bank).
4. Never click an unsolicited link or call a phone number they provide. This directs you to a scammer who is (most likely) working in an organized scam call center in another country.

That’s all the evidence you need to block, report and delete the message.

In closing: If you receive a suspicious email or SMS text message that looks like it's supposed to be from Apple, please email it to reportphishing@apple.com. 

Learn how to → Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls and other scams.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian | Community Volunteer

Babitz wrote:

I got a text message saying a payment attempt was detected but needed additional confirmation before processing could continue. I didn't make the request. It does give me the # *** to contact if I did not authorize the payment. Anyone know how to find out if this is valid?

[Edited by Moderator]

it's not valid, it is a scam text. Delete and report as spam.