The US-based organization ConsumerAffairs, supported by reports from security experts, warned of a rise in scams targeting iPhone users, aimed at stealing their money through deceptive methods based on psychological manipulation.
These scams begin with fake text messages claiming there's a problem with the user's account, such as a failed or declined purchase, and urging immediate action. The message often includes a phone number or link, and upon contacting the victim, they find themselves dealing with scammers impersonating Apple support staff, bank representatives, or even law enforcement.
Scammers rely on creating anxiety, claiming that the victim's money is in immediate danger, and may use stolen personal data to lend credibility to their story. They then exert psychological pressure to force the victim to act quickly, demanding that they transfer funds to a "safe" account, withdraw them, or send them via services like Apple Pay, Apple Cash, or even gift cards.
According to the consumer protection organization, there are clear warning signs of this type of fraud, most notably unexpected messages regarding financial transactions, requests to contact unofficial numbers, and insistence on urgent action. Requests for passwords or verification codes, or demands that the user lie to the bank, are also serious indicators of fraud.
Apple confirms that it does not send text messages asking users to contact support or provide sensitive information, stressing the need to ignore any suspicious messages and not click on links or call the numbers contained therein.
The danger of these scams lies in the fact that they trick the victim into making the transfer themselves, making it extremely difficult to recover the funds later. In one documented case, a woman received a warning about a suspicious payment, which was directed to a fraudster impersonating an official investigator. He successfully persuaded her to withdraw $15,000 before a bank employee intervened and alerted her to the scam.
Experts point out that these methods rely on what is known as "social engineering," which exploits user trust and deceives them psychologically rather than hacking systems. Although Apple Pay is technically secure, fraudsters take advantage of the speed of digital payments and user trust to carry out their schemes.
Experts advise users to review their transaction history directly on their devices and to contact Apple or their banks only through official channels. Anyone who suspects they may be targeted is urged to immediately halt their transactions and notify their bank and the relevant authorities.
With these threats increasing, experts emphasize that the best way to protect oneself remains to be patient and not to be swayed by messages that incite fear or urgency, in addition to ensuring that devices are updated and that advanced protection features such as "lockdown mode" are activated for users most vulnerable to targeting.
