‘Apple Store Gift Card’ Phishing Scam Email

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Criminals continue to target Apple customers via bogus App Store and iTunes order notification emails.

One recent version of the scam claims that you have purchased an Apple Store Gift Card valued at $100.

The email indicates that the gift card was sent to an email address that you have never seen before. It features the Apple logo and footer copyright notice. At least at first glance, the email may appear to be a genuine Apple order notification message.

However, Apple did not send the email and the transaction described did not occur. Instead, the email is a typical phishing scam designed to steal your personal and financial information.

The scammers are hoping to trick at least a few recipients into believing that their Apple account has been used to conduct a fraudulent transaction that they know nothing about. Recipients who think that the email is genuine may click the ‘Report Transactions link in the message. They will likely think that, by clicking, they will get the chance to stop the supposed transaction and get their money back.

To get victims to proceed without due forethought, the scam email creates a sense of urgency by claiming that there is only a 24-hour time frame in which to cancel the order.

Clicking the link opens a scam website that first asks for your Apple ID and then instructs you to complete a “cancel order” form. The form asks for your name and address, your credit card numbers, and a lot of other personal information.

After submitting the form, you will see a message stating that you have successfully cancelled the transaction and that your money will soon be refunded.

But, meanwhile, the scammers can collect all of the information you supplied. Once the scammers have gained access to your Apple account, they can send spam and scam emails in your name, make App Store purchases with your account, and sift through any personal files you have stored in iCloud.

They can also use your credit card to conduct further fraudulent transactions. And, they may be able to steal your identity using all of the personal and financial information they have collected.

Apple phishing scams like this one are very common. Information on the Apple website explains how to recognise and report such scam attempts.