Spam email

Identifying legitimate emails from the iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/HT201679 - lacking in specifics, the next link is better:

Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus' alerts, phony support calls, and other scams - https://support.apple.com/HT204759

Forward attempts as an attachment (in MacOS Mail use the paperclip icon) to: reportphishing@apple.com then delete it.

- Apple e-mails address you by your real name, not something like "Dear Customer" , "Dear Client" or an e-mail address.

- Apple e-mails originate from @apple.com or @itunes.com but I think it is possible to spoof a sender address

- 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.

- 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. Mar 2018 post by Niel https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8311239?answerId=33129140022#33129140022 - "Emails saying that your Apple ID has been locked or disabled are always phishing. If one actually gets disabled, its owner will be told when they try logging into it instead of through email."

- Apple will not ask for personal information in an e-mail.

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2018/02/panic-attack-apple-scams-apply- pressure/

They are cleverly deceptive and there isn't any way to stop them. They originate from outside Apple's system so I am guessing the best Apple can do is constantly use information you send to them to try to get accounts closed (plenty of accounts out there though 😟 ).

I think one other things to do is to not even open them if you suspect they are spam. I was reading there are tricks where a sender can see if you are even just opening their emails. If you open them then they know they have a valid address and then they know to keep trying.