How to identify and avoid Apple phishing emails

What are Apple phishing emails?

Apple phishing emails are fraudulent attempts by hackers to trick users into providing their Apple ID password and other personal details through emails that look legitimate. While the Apple ecosystem offers top-notch security, hackers still try to deceive users with sophisticated online scams.

How do Apple ID scams work?

In an Apple ID scam, cybercriminals use techniques like spoofing to deceive the user into thinking fraudulent emails come from legitimate companies. The email prompts the user to click a link and reveal personal information, such as their Apple ID email address and password. With cybercriminals’ ability to generate phishing emails using AI, these scams are both increasing and harder to spot.

Why would someone steal your Apple ID?

You may be wondering why someone would want to steal your Apple ID specifically. If a hacker targets your Apple ID in a phishing scam, they could gain access to your photos, the App Store, and your Apple Pay account. They could make fraudulent purchases and use your sensitive information to commit identity theft.

Most popular Apple ID phishing scams

One of the best ways to protect yourself from these attacks is to know what the most common phishing scams look like. Read on to see common examples of Apple phishing emails.

Storage limit alert scam

A storage limit alert scam is a phishing attempt where you receive an email informing you that your iCloud storage is nearly full and directing you to click on a link to upgrade. This will lead to what appears to be the official Apple website, which will ask for login credentials and other personal information.

Password reset scam

An Apple password reset scam occurs when scammers send phishing emails that appear to be from Apple and claim that your password needs to be reset. The message prompts you to click a malicious link and provide login credentials, which will give the hacker access to your Apple account.

Apple ID order invoice scam

In this scam, a cybercriminal sends an Apple ID receipt email that will claim that someone made a purchase with your ID. It usually includes some form of proof in an attachment, such as a fake receipt or invoice. To cancel the purchase, you need to click a malicious link that will lead you to a fraudulent site that looks like the Apple website and trick you into providing your Apple ID credentials.

Lesser-known types of Apple phishing scams

Those are the most popular scams, but it’s important to be aware of some of the lesser-known phishing attacks as well. Here are some other types of Apple ID email scams.

Apple Pay suspended scam

In this scam, you receive fake emails that say Apple Pay has been suspended on your device due to suspicious activity. A link in the message will take you to what seems to be an official Apple web page, which will lead you to another link that will allow you to reactivate your wallet. This next page will require sensitive information, such as your login credentials and bank account numbers.

Apple gift card scam 

With this gift card scam, a hacker contacts you by phone calls, text messages, emails, or social media. Trying to get you to act right away, the person insists that you make a payment like utility or hospital bills by purchasing an Apple gift card and sharing the code on the back of the card. The cybercriminal will go on to use the gift card funds to purchase phones, computers, and other Apple products.

How to identify an Apple phishing email

With how sophisticated phishing emails have become, it’s easy to fall victim to Apple phishing scams. These are some signs to look out for when dealing with suspicious emails:

• The sender’s email address doesn’t match legitimate Apple email addresses. Always hover over the sender’s address to make sure it ends with “email.apple.com.”
• Suspicious URLs. With URL phishing, cybercriminals make a link in an email look legitimate but actually lead to a fake site. If you hover your mouse over a link without clicking, you can see the full link and whether it goes to the official Apple site.
• The email doesn’t look quite right. Hackers have gotten sophisticated enough that they are pretty good at making phishing attempts appear to be legitimate emails. But you should still check if the Apple logo looks a bit off and is potentially fake or isn’t present at all.
• Grammar and spelling mistakes. Official emails rarely have grammar and spelling errors, so keep an eye out for them.
• A sense of urgency. Phishing emails will prey on your emotions and trick you into acting quickly. They will make you fearful of fraudulent payments made with your Apple ID account or other suspicious activity that must be dealt with right away. In the fog of worry, it’s harder to pick up on other signs of an Apple phishing email.

Remember, if you’re not sure if an email is legitimate, you can always contact Apple Support directly.

How to report suspicious emails, messages, and calls

If you receive any suspicious messages, emails, or phone calls, take action to ensure no one else becomes a potential victim. To report an Apple phishing email or text message, forward it to reportphishing@apple.com (if it’s a text, take a screenshot and send it to the same address).

To make a phishing email report to the Federal Trade Commission, you can forward the email to FTC.gov/Complaint. With a suspicious text, you can also tap “Report junk” under the message. For fake phone calls from unsolicited callers, contact your local law enforcement agency.

What to do if you’ve clicked on an Apple phishing email

First of all, don’t panic. As said, hackers have become so advanced with their attacks that it’s understandable that you may have opened a phishing email. Hackers may be able to glean details about you like your IP address, the operating system that you use, and your general location, but these details usually aren’t enough to cause real damage.

Just mark the email as spam, report it to your IT department or company if this happens at work to prevent data breaches, don’t engage by replying or clicking any suspicious links or attachments, and delete the email. 

How to protect yourself from Apple phishing scams

In addition to looking for the signs of Apple phishing emails, you can follow these steps to protect yourself from Apple phishing scams:

• Use two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds another layer to your email security. Instead of relying simply on a username and password, 2FA requires something else as well, like verification codes sent to your phone to log in to your email account.
• Focus on strong password management. Hackers prey on people with weak passwords like “password” and “123123.” Create strong and unique passwords using capital letters, numbers, and symbols. Also never use the same password for multiple accounts.
• Never click on a link or download attachments in an unsolicited email. Instead of clicking links in unsolicited messages, sign in to your Apple account directly. Generally, if you have any doubts about a suspicious email, you can always contact Apple directly.
• Turn on “Protect mail activity.” This feature helps to prevent senders from tracking your email activity and attempting phishing. On your iPhone or iPad, open the “Settings” app, go to “Mail,” and then “Privacy protection.” Turn on “Protect mail activity.”
• Use Threat Protection Pro™. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ is a powerful and effective tool you can use to protect yourself from phishing emails. It automatically blocks you from malicious websites by comparing the link you’re about to visit to a real-time list of websites that are known for phishing, scams, or hosting malicious software.
• Get a VPN for your iPhone. Some think products like iPhones are immune to hackers, but no one is completely safe from cyber threats. Using a VPN on your phone will strengthen your iPhone security. If you’re looking for a VPN for an iPhone, NordVPN is a great option. It offers strong encryption that will increase online privacy and security by encrypting your online traffic.