What to Know
- Phone scammers have been contacting Apple customers falsely reporting that their iCloud has been compromised.
- The data thieves have been disguising themselves as Apple employees in effort to gain access to iCloud users’ accounts.
- If customers have any questions about their account security Apple advises them to call their tech support number 800-275-2273.
Phone scammers have been contacting Apple customers falsely reporting that their iCloud has been compromised.
The data thieves have been disguising themselves as Apple employees in effort to gain access to iCloud users’ accounts, users have reported.
The scammers have been cold calling users. Some of the calls are coming from an 844 area code, according to complaints.
Apple customers have been questioning the legitimacy of the phone calls on Twitter and on the company’s online forum. Fellow users have advised customers to “just hang up” when they receive one of the scamming phone calls.
Users who provide their login information to receive assistance with their “malfunctioning” accounts make themselves vulnerable to their personal information being stolen.
Users often have personal information like their credit card number attached to their accounts.
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Apple’s policy does not include contacting customers in the same manner that is being described by recipients of the scammer phone calls.
“It's important customers check to make sure they’re contacting Apple directly before calling back,” Apple employee Colin Johnson said.
To decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of scams, costumers should make sure they are initiating conversations about accounts that include personal information.
“Our helpline is available should customers need assistance, and they should never use the number provided in such a cold call or in a dialog box that pops up on their screen,” Johnson said.
The scammers aren’t the only threats facing the tech company and its customers.
A group of hackers recently announced plans to tamper and “wipe” millions of iCloud users’ devices unless Apple pay them a ransom.
Apple has refuted the group’s claims, expressing that the data is likely from “previously compromised third-party services.”
If customers have any questions about their account security Apple advises them to call their tech support number 800-275-2273.
