In one of the latest scams circulating the digital world, bandits are sending text messages to cell phone users claiming that their Apple accounts are about to be suspended. The only way to prevent this from happening, the message claims, is by clicking on an embedded link and verifying personal data. If someone follows the link, that person risks handing over valuable account information to an appreciative criminal.
The text message is simple:
“[Your name] you must confirm your Apple ID to prevent deletion. Please login at: http://fakeapplesite.com and confirm your details. Apple Inc.”
When someone follows the link and enters his or her Apple account information, the criminal can take that data and use it to access the account to make purchases. The fake Apple verification website could also ask for additional data to verify a person’s identity such as bank account information, social security number, birth date, and driver’s license number. Victims of this attack could not only incur hefty Apple account charges, they could find that their bank accounts have been drained, discover new charge accounts opened in their names, and learn that other forms of fraud have been committed using their personal information.
To avoid these types of scams, never follow a link sent in a text message. Just as any link sent in an email can be hazardous to your financial future, so can links that arrive on your phone. If you feel compelled to verify the authenticity of an account confirmation text message, open a fresh page in a web browser and navigate to the company’s actual address. Never use contact information provided in the text message. Alternatively, open the company’s application on your mobile device. One you’re at the company’s authentic site or app, you can check for important messages or any alerts the company may have sent. You can also find the “Contact Us” information and connect with the company to ask about the text and report that a criminal is using the company’s good name to scam customers.
Like most sales pitches, scammers don’t need a large response rate to make the venture profitable. Don’t become part of the small number of responders who make criminal activity worthwhile. Avoid clicking on links sent in text messages and always view such messages with an element of suspicion.