Fake Apple Pay security text leads to Apple ID takeover and bank drain
A text claiming to be Apple flags a suspicious Apple Pay charge and gives a number to call. The caller steals your 2FA code to access your Apple ID and linked payment cards. Some victims then face a second call targeting their bank.
Also known as: Apple Pay text scam, fake Apple Support call, Apple ID phishing text, Apple security alert scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Never call a phone number in a text about Apple Pay — check your actual Wallet app or go to appleid.apple.com directly
- 2 Never read a verification code you received by text back to any caller — Apple Support will never ask for this
- 3 If you think your Apple ID was compromised, immediately go to appleid.apple.com and change your password
- 4 Check Settings → [your name] → scroll down to see all signed-in devices and remove any you don't recognize
- 5 Notify your bank immediately if you linked a debit or credit card to Apple Pay, in case the scammer accessed it
- 6 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Red flags
- ⚠ Apple never sends unsolicited texts with a phone number to call about suspicious transactions
- ⚠ The text provides a specific dollar amount and store location to seem real — these are fabricated
- ⚠ The caller will ask you to read back a verification code sent to your phone — this is your real Apple 2FA code
- ⚠ You are told a transaction was 'partially blocked' and you need to verify to 'fully secure' the account
- ⚠ After the call, your Apple ID password may be changed and you are locked out