WPD offers advice on scam that targets Apple accounts

The Worthington Police Department is advising the public that a new phishing attack is targeting Apple accounts. 

The scam starts with a text message that appeared to be a two-factor authentication code from Apple with a number to access your account. The victim then receives an alert on their Apple devices that someone is trying to log into it. Right after that, the victim receives a telephone call from Apple’s automatic system with another code used to log in to their account.

The victim then receives a telephone call from someone pretending to be from Apple’s customer service claiming someone was trying to hack into their account. This call is followed up by a second call claiming to help the person protect their account.

The WPD reports that the scammer then files a ticket with Apple, which generates a real case confirmation email coming directly from Apple. The scammer then tells the victim to change their Apple iCloud password.

Once the iCloud password is changed, the scammer tells the victim he will receive a text message to close the ticket. This text message is fraudulent and not from Apple. Clicking on the text message takes the victim to a legitimate-looking page.

The scammer on the telephone then tells the victim they would receive a code to close the case. The scammer then asks the victim for the code. Once the code is given to the scammer, the victim loses access to their account.

The Worthington Police Department states that If someone calls you and claims to be from Apple (or any other business), simply hang up and only use official

communications channels to contact the company.