Has anyone else received promotional emails from a merchant after using Apple Pay?

I recently used Apple Pay at a cafe and then, a week later, I received a promotional email from the cafe. This is absurd. I thought Apple was good at protecting privacy...I guess now they can just share my email like any marketer.

Posted on May 9, 2018 9:51 AM

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Posted on May 9, 2018 12:22 PM

I doubt they are related; Apple doesn't share your email with anyone. However, did you use Wi-Fi at the cafe? Did you sign in using Wi-Fi, or get or send any email using their Wi-Fi?


As another possibility, Apple Pay is tied to a credit card; it has a "secret" credit card number, but that number doesn't change. So if you use Apple Pay in 5 different stores they all charge to the same number. If you entered your email address in any of them (for an email receipt, for example) then the credit card processor has your email address. A lot of small businesses use Square as their credit card processor, and email receipts are one of the features available for customers when you charge at a Square-supported business.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 9, 2018 12:22 PM in response to ernestl12

I doubt they are related; Apple doesn't share your email with anyone. However, did you use Wi-Fi at the cafe? Did you sign in using Wi-Fi, or get or send any email using their Wi-Fi?


As another possibility, Apple Pay is tied to a credit card; it has a "secret" credit card number, but that number doesn't change. So if you use Apple Pay in 5 different stores they all charge to the same number. If you entered your email address in any of them (for an email receipt, for example) then the credit card processor has your email address. A lot of small businesses use Square as their credit card processor, and email receipts are one of the features available for customers when you charge at a Square-supported business.

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Has anyone else received promotional emails from a merchant after using Apple Pay?

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