Wingcowyn
Level 1 (8 points)
iPad

Q: Scam or email from Apple ?

I have just received an email from apple, which comes up as appstoreonline.co.uk, stating that I have purchased an item, Minecraft Pocket Edition at a cost of £1.17 at a time when I was out, and not on my iPad. It invites me to click on a link for a refund if I did not purchase this.

Is this a similar scam to the ones on Windows, which if you follow the link it will install some kind of virus or spy wear on my iPad.

Anyone come across this type of thing on their iPad before, and what would be the easiest way to check if this has in fact been sent by Apple?

Thanks,

Peter

iPad, iOS 9

Posted on Aug 17, 2016 1:59 PM

by stedman1,Solvedanswer
stedman1 stedman1
Level 9 (73,385 points)
Apple Watch
A:

It is a phishing attempt. Do not respond. Do not divulge any personal or financial information. You can use the address below to forward the suspect email message, as an attachment to Apple.

reportphishing@apple.com

 

The link below has information to help identify fraudulent emails.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4933

Posted on Aug 17, 2016 2:16 PM

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Wingcowyn

Q: Scam or email from Apple ?

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  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Aug 17, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 9 (53,491 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    It is a scam. It is not from Apple.

  • by stedman1,Solvedanswer

    stedman1 stedman1 Aug 17, 2016 2:16 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 9 (73,385 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 17, 2016 2:16 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    It is a phishing attempt. Do not respond. Do not divulge any personal or financial information. You can use the address below to forward the suspect email message, as an attachment to Apple.

    reportphishing@apple.com

     

    The link below has information to help identify fraudulent emails.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4933

  • by sberman,Helpful

    sberman sberman Aug 17, 2016 2:16 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 8 (39,188 points)
    Aug 17, 2016 2:16 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    One thing you might consider doing is copying the link to your clipboard, then open a new tab in Safari and paste the link so you can view it there - assess its legitimacy before going to it.

     

    Another thing you might do is sign on to iTunes on your computer, view your account from there (from Account > View My Account in iTunes' menu), look at your recent charges and see if you were in fact charged for this item.

     

    If you believe the link is spam (likely), then do Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website data on the iPad.

     

    UPDATE - Sorry, you got an email.  My advice above applies more to a Safari pop-up.  See other responses above.

  • by Wingcowyn,

    Wingcowyn Wingcowyn Aug 17, 2016 2:08 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2016 2:08 PM in response to stedman1

    Thanks steadman 1,

    If I had followed a link, would some virus or spy wear have been installed on my iPad, or would they simply have tried to get me to enter financial information that they could use?

    Thanks,

    Peter

  • by stevejobsfan0123,

    stevejobsfan0123 stevejobsfan0123 Aug 17, 2016 2:10 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 8 (43,564 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 17, 2016 2:10 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    Wingcowyn wrote:

     

    Thanks steadman 1,

    If I had followed a link, would some virus or spy wear have been installed on my iPad, or would they simply have tried to get me to enter financial information that they could use?

    Thanks,

    Peter

    They would try to get you to enter your information. Just visiting the webpage will not infect your computer. There are no viruses that currently affect OS X anyway.

  • by Wingcowyn,

    Wingcowyn Wingcowyn Aug 17, 2016 2:10 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2016 2:10 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    Tthanks also sberman,

    Peter

  • by Wingcowyn,

    Wingcowyn Wingcowyn Aug 17, 2016 2:13 PM in response to stevejobsfan0123
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2016 2:13 PM in response to stevejobsfan0123

    Thanks stevejobsfan0123,

    That is reassuring.

    Peter

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Aug 17, 2016 2:15 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 9 (73,385 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 17, 2016 2:15 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    You are welcome.

  • by Wingcowyn,

    Wingcowyn Wingcowyn Aug 17, 2016 2:21 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2016 2:21 PM in response to stedman1

    Sorry if my helpful or solveds have got mixed up/missing. Fairly new to this forum.

    Thanks,

    Peter

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Aug 17, 2016 2:24 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 4 (1,863 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2016 2:24 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    Wingcowyn wrote:

     

    I have just received an email from apple, which comes up as appstoreonline.co.uk, stating that I have purchased an item, Minecraft Pocket Edition at a cost of £1.17 at a time when I was out, and not on my iPad. It invites me to click on a link for a refund if I did not purchase this.

    You'll be safe if you follow a basic rule to never follow links on an email. The email may be legitimate but you do not have to follow the link. Manually launch a browser and visit apple website (or use iTunes). Sign in and check your account to verify if there are indeed unauthorized purchases.

     

    Wingcowyn wrote:

     

    what would be the easiest way to check if this has in fact been sent by Apple?

    I normally check the email header to verify where it is coming from just out of curiosity. However, I don't trust it even if it's really from Apple. I never follow links in an email.

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Aug 17, 2016 2:27 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 9 (73,385 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 17, 2016 2:27 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    Wingcowyn wrote:

     

    Sorry if my helpful or solveds have got mixed up/missing. Fairly new to this forum.

    Thanks,

    Peter

    No problem. You have done far better than most folks that ask tech questions here. Most never reply to a thread to indicate if a supplied answer solved their issue.

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Aug 17, 2016 2:31 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 4 (1,863 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2016 2:31 PM in response to stedman1

    stedman1 wrote:

     

    Most never reply to a thread to indicate if a supplied answer solved their issue.

    or marked someone's reply as an answer when it isn't.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Aug 17, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Wingcowyn
    Level 8 (39,188 points)
    Aug 17, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Wingcowyn

    Glad you got this resolved before any harm was done.

     

    Enjoy your Apple gear.

     

    And I concur with stedman1's remark: "You have done far better than most folks that ask tech questions here."

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Aug 17, 2016 2:32 PM in response to ShagCA
    Level 9 (73,385 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 17, 2016 2:32 PM in response to ShagCA

    Or, marked their own "Thank you" as solving the issue.

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