Apple users need to be aware of a new phishing email scam that is circulating, aimed at stealing Apple IDs and passwords. The deceptive email claims your Apple Pay account has been “temporary restricted” and will be permanently locked unless you verify your account details.
This article will provide an in-depth overview of how the “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” email scam works, including a detailed analysis of the scam email itself. We’ll outline the warning signs to watch out for, provide step-by-step specifics on the scam process, and offer guidance on what to do if you fell victim.
Overview of the Scam
The “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” scam starts with an email designed to look like it is from Apple. The email cleverly uses Apple branding elements like the logo and standard email format to make it seem legitimate.
The email states that your Apple Pay account has been temporarily restricted for security reasons. It goes on to say your account will be permanently locked in 48 hours unless you verify your account information. This creates urgency to click on the “Verify your Apple ID” button contained in the email.
Here is what the scam email usually says:
Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted.
Verify your Apple ID Information,
Dear Your Apple ID [mail] was used to sing in to iCloud via a web browser. For your safety, your Apple ID has been temporary disabled.
Sign-in Information: Date&Time Operating System Windows IP Adress: 02.20.3.9
Therefore we need to re-verify your account data. If you did not verify your account within 48 hour, your account will be permanently locked. Go to Apple ID an verify as soon as possible.
[Go To Apple ID].
The entire email is a scam aimed at stealing your Apple ID login credentials. Clicking the button leads to a fake Apple website. If you enter your Apple ID email and password, the scammers will gain access and fully compromise your account.
How the Apple Pay Account Restriction Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how the “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” phishing scam operates:
1. You Receive the Deceptive Email
The scam starts with an email sent to your inbox that is designed to look convincingly like an official Apple communication.
The email appears to come from “Apple” and uses Apple Inc imagery including the Apple logo. The subject line reads “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted.”
The content of the email is modeled on Apple’s standard account notification emails. This familiar formatting lends the scam message credibility.
2. The Email Claims Your Apple Pay Account is Restricted
The body of the email states that your Apple Pay account has been “temporary restricted” due to suspicious activity.
It goes on to say that your account will be “permanently locked” in 48 hours unless you verify your account information immediately.
This threat creates urgency to take action before the short 48 hour deadline passes. Scammers use time limited offers or threats to hurry victims into making mistakes.
3. The Email Instructs You to Verify Your Account
The scam email includes a “Verify your Apple ID” button that supposedly leads to the Apple ID management site.
In reality, the button links to a fake Apple website that has been carefully designed to look exactly like the real Apple ID login page.
The sophisticated visual design tricks users into thinking they are on a legitimate Apple domain.
4. You Enter Your Apple ID Login Details
Once on the fake Apple website, you are prompted to enter your Apple ID email address and password to “verify” your account.
Since the site looks so convincing, many victims trust it and input their actual Apple login credentials.
Doing so gives the scammers direct access to the victim’s Apple account.
5. The Scammers Gain Control of Your Apple Account
After capturing your Apple ID and password, the scammers can now access your account and associated personal data.
They may change account details to maintain control, or sell the credentials on the dark web. Criminals can also use the access to commit identity fraud.
In addition to Apple Pay functions, the scammers can get into linked iCloud services, Find My iPhone, notes, photos, and more.
What to Do If You Fell Victim to the Apple Pay Restriction Scam
If you suspect you may have been compromised by the “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” phishing attack, take the following steps right away:
Change your Apple ID password – Updating your password prevents continued account access. Create a new, strong password that scammers can’t easily guess. Enable two-factor authentication for added security.
Review account activity – Check for any unauthorized purchases, password resets, or device registrations. Look for access from new locations as an indicator of fraudulent activity.
Check linked financial accounts – Examine any payment methods associated with your Apple ID for fraudulent transactions. Contact your bank or payment provider if you see suspicious charges.
Deactivate and reactivate devices – Sign out of iCloud on all of your registered devices. Then reactivate your devices with your new password to lock out scammers.
Contact Apple Support – Report fraudulent access to your account to Apple. They can take additional measures to secure your account and personal data.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Frequently Asked Questions About the “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” Scam
1. What is the “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” scam?
This is a phishing scam where targets receive an email claiming their Apple Pay account has been temporarily restricted and will be permanently locked unless they verify their account within 48 hours. The email contains a “Verify Your Apple ID” button that leads to a fake Apple website designed to steal Apple ID login credentials.
2. How can I identify the “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” phishing email?
Warning signs include an urgent call to action, threats of account suspension, branded imagery like Apple logo, and a button to verify account information. Legitimate Apple emails would not threaten to lock accounts without allowing you to first verify identity.
3. What happens if I click the verification button in the email?
The button goes to a fake website impersonating Apple’s real ID login page. If you enter your Apple ID email and password, the scammers capture your credentials and gain full access to your account.
4. What do the scammers do once they have my Apple ID login?
The criminals use the stolen credentials to access your account, personal information, payment methods, and linked services like iCloud. They may change details to lock you out, steal data to commit fraud, or sell the credentials on the dark web.
5. How can I tell if a website is the real Apple login page?
Double check the URL for “apple.com” not “applesecurity.com” or variations. Real Apple sites have a green padlock and valid HTTPS certificate. Watch for poor grammar and low-quality graphics which signal a scam site.
6. What should I do if I entered my Apple ID on the fake site?
Immediately change your Apple ID password, deactivate linked devices, check for unauthorized activity, and contact Apple Support. Enable two-factor authentication for extra security against future attacks.
7. How can I protect myself from the Apple Pay restriction scam?
Carefully inspect any emails claiming to be from Apple. Avoid clicking links and instead go directly to Apple’s website. Use strong unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
8. Who is behind the Apple Pay phishing scam?
Cybercriminals and scammers operate these phishing attacks to steal personal data for financial gain. It’s difficult to identify the specific groups, as they use technical tricks to hide their identity and location.
9. Should I report scam emails impersonating Apple?
Yes, you can report phishing emails to Apple at phishing@apple.com. Make sure to avoid clicking any links as this verifies your email to scammers. Forward the scam message as an attachment.
10. How can I boost my online security against phishing?
Use a password manager, security keys like Yubikey, antivirus software, a VPN, privacy-focused web browsers, and caution opening links/attachments. Enabling MFA and online privacy tools will help protect your accounts.
The Bottom Line
The “Your Apple Pay Has Been Temporary Restricted” phishing scam is a serious threat all Apple users need to watch out for. The deceptive email is convincingly designed to look like legitimate Apple correspondence.
Scammers rely on creating urgency and fear to trick victims into clicking on the fake verification button and entering Apple login credentials on a phishing site. This gives them full access to compromise accounts.
Understanding how this scam operates can help Apple customers identify and avoid this insidious phishing attack. Always practice caution before clicking links or entering login information to prevent your personal data from ending up in the wrong hands.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
