Apple Pay scam! iPhone users targetted by this scary phishing attack that steals money

The users of Apple Pay have been urged to remain vigilant as a money-stealing phishing attack is targeting iPhone users. Know how to avoid such phishing attacks.

Using Apple Pay? Know all about this horrifying scam that can hurt your bank balance and you won't even know about it. (Pixabay)

If you are using Apple Pay for your daily payments, then you need to be more cautious than usual now! Scamwatch Australia has warned iPhone users as well as users of other Apple device that a phishing attack is targetting them. It has been detected across Australia. The Apple Pay scam is a text that claims the users' Apple Pay service account has been suspended and in order to regain access, they need to confirm the account details. You guessed right, it is all part of the phishing scam to extract the personal information and financial details of the users. The phishing text is further followed by a malicious link to a third-party banking website, designed to steal credit card and banking information.

"Watch out for phishing texts claiming that your account has been suspended. This creates a sense of urgency that encourages you to act quickly – but the link is a #scam designed to steal your card and banking info," Scamwatch Australia cautioned iPhone users in a tweet. The tweet further advised the Apple Pay users that if they are concerned, then they should consider logging in into the account the way that they have been doing earlier from their phone app and avoid clicking on any miscellaneous link.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) told an Australian media company 7NEWS.com.au that Scamwatch Australia had received around 40 reports of the same Apple Pay scam in July 2022, with over $1,000 in reported losses.

Know what iPhone users can do to avoid being victims of such money-stealing scams. 

How to protect your iPhone from Apple Pay scam 

• Apple advised its users to not share personal information such as credit card numbers with anyone.
• You should protect your Apple ID using two-factor authentication. Also, ensure to keep your contact information secure and up to date, and never share your Apple ID password or verification codes with anyone. Apple says that it will never ask for such information.
• You should download software from sources you can trust.
• Most importantly, never follow links or open the shared attachments in suspicious or unsolicited messages, such as in the case of the Apple Pay scam.
• In case you get a suspicious SMS text message that looks like it's supposed to be from Apple, take a screenshot of the message and report it to reportphishing@apple.com.