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BBB: Refuse to take the iPhone Scam bait

Jason Meza, Better Business Bureau
Posted at 8:53 AM, Jul 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-09 13:59:42-04

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Scammers are becoming more convincing in their attempts to get your personal information.

Already this year, the Better Business Bureau has seen dozens of reports from across the state regarding thieves targeting iPhone customers using the Apple identity.

Those behind the attempt will typically get you to answer your phone by manipulating the caller ID to show up as “Apple Inc.” or 1-800-MYAPPLE (matching the official Apple number). The pre-recorded call tells you that your phone or computer is at risk, giving you the option to press 1 or call a number to speak to customer service. Once you do, the supposed customer service representative will say there is a serious threat to your device, and then pressure you into sharing personal information or pay them to “fix” the problem.

If a call similar to this comes to you, try to keep from becoming a victim in this way:

Do not trust caller ID. Even if caller ID says a reputable company is calling, that may not be the case. Scammers know how to spoof caller ID to make the source look legitimate. The same is often true for emails and letters.

Contact customer service. If a call has you worried or you suspect that there might be something wrong, do not use the number offered by the caller to call customer service. Go to the company’s Web site and look up their main customer support number.

Never give out personal information. Information like an address, banking numbers, a Social Security number and more can be used to steal your money and identity. Be careful about who you give it to, and never give sensitive information to someone who calls unsolicited.

To learn more, visit www.bbb.org.

In the case mentioned in this article, you can go to Apple Support directly at https://www.support.apple.com.