If you’re anything like me, you often ignore unsolicited phone calls because there is just too much garbage coming through. If I’m not expecting a call or I don’t recognize the caller, I let it go to voicemail. (What happened to the Do Not Call list?)
There’s a new scam going ’round that targets iPhone users. The scammers call (and leave a voicemail if you don’t answer), claiming that your Apple ID has been locked and implores you call call “tech support” to resolve the issue. This is a scam. Do not call back or offer your Apple ID username or password to anyone that may reach out. Your account is unlikely to be locked out and the scammer is trying to get you to divulge personal information in order to compromise your account. You can safely ignore the call, delete the message, and block the caller.
Apple will never contact you via phone to advise on an account issue or ask you to reset your password. To further validate that this is a scam, the call originates from an 800 number (or another toll-free-looking number), however, the caller asks you to call their toll free number beginning with a 646 area code which, of course, is not toll-free.
If you need to reset your Apple account, visit their website or change it on your phone. While you’re in the settings, it’s a good idea to enable two-factor authentication, if you haven’t done so already. Official Apple instructions for resetting a password or enabling 2FA can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487
Now breathe a sigh of relief that the disturbing voicemail you received is probably just another scam. You spotted it, ignored it, and and may carry on.
