Fraudsters target users with ‘Apple ID suspended’ scam: Here’s how it works – Times of India

Apple users be warned! Fraudsters are trying to steal your login credentials through a new phishing email disguised as an official email from Apple Support. The email falsely claims that your Apple ID has been suspended due to suspicious activity or outdated information, further asking you to click on a link to verify your account.

How Apple ID scam works

The message appears similar to real Apple communications, complete with a blue button labeled “Go to Apple ID”. It seeks to create a false sense of urgency by stating that you must verify your identity within 24 hours to avoid losing access to your account. However but clicking the link will only lead to a fraudulent website designed to steal your username, password, and other personal details.
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Red flags abound in this scam: the email comes from a suspicious domain (@uaepass.ae), not Apple’s official @email.apple.com. Further, the email also contains clumsy phrasing and grammatical mistakes.

How to report phishing email to Apple

An Apple Support page reads: “If you’ve received a suspicious email, please forward it to reportphishing@apple.com. If you’re on a Mac, select the email and choose Forward As Attachment from the Message menu.”
“If you think you might have entered personal information such as a password or credit card info on a scam website, immediately change your Apple Account password,” it reads.

What is phishing

Phishing refers to fraudulent attempts by cybercriminals to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal details. These scams typically occur through emails, text messages, or websites that appear to be from trusted organizations or legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known companies like Apple or Google.
Phishing messages often contain urgent or alarming language, such as warnings about account suspensions or security breaches, to pressure the victim into acting quickly. The messages may include links that lead to fake websites that closely resemble the real ones, where users are prompted to enter their personal information.
The goal of phishing scams is to steal information for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, financial fraud, or gaining unauthorized access to online accounts.