Overview
- ConsumerAffairs' warning, published Wednesday, was echoed by outlets on Thursday and Friday as reports described the scam spreading across the U.S. and Europe.
- Texts or emails claim Apple Pay fraud and supply a phone number or link that routes victims to impostors posing as Apple Support, banks, or police.
- Callers use stolen personal details and urgent scripts to push people to move money to a so‑called safe account, withdraw cash, or send funds via Apple Pay, Apple Cash, or gift cards, which makes refunds unlikely.
- One documented case saw a woman nearly withdraw $15,000 before a bank teller recognized the ruse and told her to hang up.
- Apple says it never sends unsolicited messages asking you to call or share codes, urges users to report phishing to reportphishing@apple.com, check Apple Pay activity on their device, and contact their bank or the FTC through official channels.