Columbus, OH – Do you have an Apple device and iCloud account? If so, don’t let this new scam fool you. Con artists are calling people across the United States and Canada and claiming that their iCloud accounts have been hacked.
BBB Scam Tracker has received reports of this scam nationally and locally. National reports state that scammers acting as Apple support staff have called consumers, and a Central Ohio consumer reported receiving a pop-up from “Apple” asking for $299 to put virus protection on their machine.
How the Scam Works:
You get a robocall or pop-up claiming to be from Apple Support. Your Caller ID may say “Apple Inc.” or the name of your local Apple store. The message informs you that your iCloud account was hacked and prompts you to stay on the line and speak to an Apple support “technician.”
If you stay on the line, this “technician” will offer to fix your account. But first, they will need remote access to your computer. Unfortunately, allowing a scammer to access your computer can open you up to the risk of identity theft. Scam artists can install malware that records passwords or hunts for personal information, such as bank account numbers, on your computer.
Protect yourself from tech support scams:
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Don’t ever give a stranger remote access to your machine: Granting someone remote access to your computer permits them to install malware and access your files.
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Be wary of anyone calling you and claiming to be from a big-name tech company. Most big tech company employees will not call customers who have not asked to be called.
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Don’t believe Caller ID: Victims report falling for this scam because the calls appear to come from Apple Support. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so don’t believe what you see on your phone.
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Think twice when you see a pop-up notification on your computer that isn’t from a program you installed. Scammers make tech support scam pop-ups that look like they’re coming from your computer, but they are actually ads displaying in your internet browser.
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Check out BBB Tips: Many tech support scams use similar techniques; see bbb.org/techsupportscam/ for more advice.
Find out about scams impersonating Apple by visiting this page on support.apple.com.
To learn more about scams, go to BBB Scam Tips (bbb.org/scamtips). To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker).
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