BBB Warns Community of Scam Apple ID Support Emails & Calls

Do you have an Apple device and iCloud account? If so, don’t let this new scam fool you. Con artists have been calling and emailing people across the United States and Canada and claiming that their iCloud accounts have been hacked or unauthorized changes have been made.

How the Scam Works:

You get a robocall or email claiming to be from Apple Support. The message informs you that your iCloud account was hacked and will offer to fix your account, but first they’ll need remote access to your computer.

“Allowing a scammer to access your computer can open you up to the risk of identity theft,” says Paula Fleming, spokesperson for the local BBB. “Scam artists can install malware that records passwords or hunts for personal information, such as bank account numbers, on your computer.”

Protect yourself from tech support scams:

Never give a stranger remote access to your device. Granting someone remote access to your computer allows them to install malware and access your files.

Be wary of anyone calling and claiming to be from a big-name tech company. Most big tech company employees will not call customers who have not asked to be called.

Don't believe Caller ID. Victims report falling for this scam because the calls appear to come from Apple Support. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so don't believe what you see on your phone.

Think twice when you see a pop-up notification on your computer that isn’t from a program you installed. Scammers make tech support scam pop-ups that look like they’re coming from your computer, but they are actually ads displaying in your Internet browser.

Look for misspellings: Look out for spelling and grammar mistakes when dealing with a suspicious looking email claiming to come from Apple Support. Additionally, check the copyright at the bottom of the email - if it looks even slightly different, then it is mostly-likely a fake.

Check out more BBB Tips: Many tech support scams use similar techniques; see bbb.org/techsupportscam/ for more advice.

Find out about scams impersonating Apple by visiting this page on support.apple.com.

If you suspect you've been contacted by a tech support scammer, report it to our Scam Tracker. You can also visit support.apple.com to read more about scammers impersonating Apple.

For more information you can trust, visit us at bbb.org/boston, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.