Apple Billing Approval Text Scam – What You Need To Know
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Have you received a suspicious text message that appears to be from Apple, warning of unauthorized charges or account activity? If so, you may be the target of a new and alarming scam that is duping Apple device owners out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
This article will provide an in-depth look at how the Apple Billing Approval Notice text scam works, who is behind it, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself
This article contains:
An Overview of the Scam That Is Targeting Apple Users
The scam starts with an official-looking text message that identifies itself as coming from Apple. The message will say that unusual activity or charges have been detected on your Apple ID, and urges you to call a provided phone number to speak with an “Apple representative” immediately.
Of course, the phone number does not actually belong to Apple. It routes victims to a call center run by scammers posing as Apple support. Their goal is to gain remote access to your device under the pretense of providing refunds, removing malware, or securing your account. Once connected, they can steal personal data, install malware, or trick you into buying gift cards and sharing the codes.
This scam is sometimes referred to as the Apple tech support scam, and it has rapidly spread in the last couple of years. Security experts have noted a sharp rise in the number of reports from victims. It is estimated that just in the United States alone, over $35 million has been stolen through these text-based scams.
Sadly, the people behind these scams are preying on concerned Apple users who simply want to protect their accounts and devices. However, as you’ll learn, these text messages are completely fake and any calls should be avoided.
Step-By-Step: How the Apple Billing Approval Scam Unfolds
The scammers execute this scam with a process designed to slowly gain a victim’s trust through misrepresentation and social engineering. Here is how the scam typically unfolds:
Step 1: Receiving the Fake Security Alert Text
The first step is the initial text message. It will appear to come from an Apple-related number or email address. The message sounds very urgent, warning of unusual charges or sign-in attempts.
Here is an example:
[Apple Security Alert]
We have noticed that your Apple id was recently used at “APPLE STORE” for $143.95, paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization. Also some suspicious sign in request and apple pay activation request detected. That looks like suspicious to us. In order to maintain the security and privacy of your account we have placed those request on hold. If NOT you? Please Call [scam phone number] to talk to an Apple Representative. Failing may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed. Call immediately to cancel this charge.
Customer Support:
Billing Support : Subscriptions and Billing – Official Apple Support
Have a great day!
The message goes on to say that you must call the provided number immediately to speak with Apple and potentially cancel fraudulent charges. Of course, the number does not go to Apple at all.
Step 2: Calling the Fake Support Number
Concerned victims will call the number, believing they will speak to Apple support. However, the number actually routes to a scam call center, often located overseas.
When victims call, the scammers pose as Apple employees or support agents. They falsely claim that they need remote access to your device to fix the security issue and process refunds. This is where the real scam begins.
Step 3: Allowing Remote Access to Your Device
The “support agent” will ask you to download remote access software, such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer. They claim this will allow them to remotely connect to your device, assess the security issue, and process refunds.
This gives the scammers full access to your device, allowing them to steal data, install malware, or make changes to your accounts. No legitimate company will ever ask for this type of remote access.
Step 4: Entering Your Apple ID Password
In some cases, the scammers will convince victims to voluntarily share their Apple ID password. They may claim they need to “validate your account” as part of the security process.
Sharing passwords gives the scammers full control to steal money from Apple accounts linked to credit cards or debit cards. Never share your passwords with unsolicited callers.
Step 5: Purchasing Gift Cards for the “Refund”
One of the most common goals of the scammers is to trick victims into buying Apple gift cards to pay for a refund or fix security issues. The scammers will ask for the gift card numbers and PINs, which allows them to steal the funds.
Legitimate companies will never ask you to pay with gift cards. This is a huge red flag.
What to Do If You Get a Suspicious Text Claiming to Be From Apple
If you receive a text message that claims to be from Apple and asks you to call a number regarding unauthorized charges, here are important steps to take:
Do not call the number – Any number provided in one of these text scams does not actually go to Apple. Calling it will connect you to scammers.
Contact Apple directly – Use Apple’s official customer support numbers, which can be found on their website. Ask them to confirm whether the text was legitimate.
Beware requests for remote access – Apple will never proactively reach out to ask for remote access to your device. This is a scam tactic.
Never share passwords or gift cards – Apple will not ask for your password or for payment via gift cards to solve security issues.
Watch for urgent wording – Text scams often use urgent wording, threatening account suspension or charges. Be suspicious.
Report scam texts – Forward scam text messages to 7726 (SPAM) to report them to your cell provider.
Who Is Behind the Apple Billing Approval Scams?
These Apple tech support scams are being orchestrated by organized criminal networks, often based overseas in countries like India.
Scammers will set up complex call center operations designed to mimic legitimate customer support. The criminals involved in the scams typically:
Spoof domestic numbers – Scammers use VoIP and spoofing technology to display numbers with local area codes, building trust.
Purchase user data on the black market – Your name, email address, and other personal info may have been purchased on the dark web.
Create multiple fake identities – Scammers involved in these calls will regularly change their names and backstories when speaking to victims.
Use social engineering tactics – Scammers are trained in psychological tactics to build trust and talk victims into giving remote access or passwords.
Route calls overseas – Even when scammers use domestic numbers, they route calls to international fraud centers before connecting victims.
Operate with scripts – Call center scammers work off pre-written scripts and dialogue trees to imitate Apple support calls.
Evade authorities – Scam centers hide behind shell companies and regularly relocate to new sites to avoid legal crackdowns.
In short, these criminal networks are sophisticated, well-funded, and very difficult for authorities to permanently shut down. Staying vigilant is key.
Expert Tips: How to Avoid Falling Victim to the Apple Billing Scam
While these scams can seem convincing, there are ways to protect yourself and avoid being manipulated:
Know the warning signs – Urgent wording, threats of account suspension, requests for immediate payment, and unsolicited calls/texts are red flags.
Never call unsolicited numbers – Only call numbers listed directly on Apple’s website, never numbers provided in suspicious texts.
Don’t trust caller ID – Scammers spoof official-looking numbers. Verify the number independently with Apple.
Refuse remote access – Don’t allow callers claiming to be Apple support to remotely connect to your device. Real Apple support will never do this.
Guard account details – Do not share your Apple ID password with any unsolicited callers or as part of an unexpected “verification” process.
Avoid gift card payments – iTunes gift cards are for your personal use only. Scammers pressure victims into buying cards and giving them the codes.
Hang up – If a caller seems suspicious, don’t engage. Simply hang up and call Apple directly to verify.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
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 for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
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.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, 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:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
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.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
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.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Apple Billing Approval Text Scam
1. How does the Apple billing approval text scam work?
The scam starts with a text message that appears to come from Apple. It warns of unauthorized charges or account activity, and provides a number to call. However, the number routes to scammers posing as Apple support. They gain remote access to devices or trick victims into buying gift cards under the pretense of providing refunds or account security.
2. What are some examples of the text messages victims receive?
The texts often mention suspicious charges made with Apple Pay or sign-in attempts. They may say something like:
“
[Apple Security Alert]
We have noticed that your Apple id was recently used at “APPLE STORE” for $143.95, paid by Apple Pay Pre Authorization. Also some suspicious sign in request and apple pay activation request detected. That looks like suspicious to us. In order to maintain the security and privacy of your account we have placed those request on hold. If NOT you? Please Call [scam phone number] to talk to an Apple Representative. Failing may lead to auto debit and charge will not be reversed. Call immediately to cancel this charge.
Customer Support:
Billing Support : Subscriptions and Billing – Official Apple Support
Have a great day!
“
The texts urge victims to call before their account is compromised or suspended. Of course, the number goes to scammers, not real Apple support.
3. What happens when victims call the number in the text?
The number leads to a scam call center where criminals pose as Apple support agents. They claim remote access to your device is needed to provide refunds or stop hackers. This allows them to install spyware, steal data, or gain account access.
4. Will Apple tech support ever ask for remote access?
No. Apple will never proactively contact you asking for remote access to your device or account. Any call or text requesting this type of access is always a scam attempt.
5. How can I tell if a call from Apple support is fake?
Warning signs of a scam call include urgent demands to call a provided number, threats that your account will be deactivated, requests for payment via gift cards, or any request for your Apple ID password or device passwords.
6. What’s the goal behind the Apple billing approval text scam?
The main goals are to gain remote access to devices in order to steal personal data and install spyware, take over Apple accounts to make fraudulent charges, or trick victims into buying gift cards and sharing the codes.
7. Should I call or text the number provided in one of these scam messages?
No, you should never call, text, or otherwise engage with the phone number provided in these text scams. The numbers are controlled by scammers. Contact Apple directly through official support channels to verify if a message was real.
8. How can I report a scam text message that claims to be from Apple?
You can report scam text messages by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM). This allows your phone carrier to investigate and potentially block the senders. You can also report the scam to Apple and the FTC to help warn others.
9. How can I protect myself from the Apple billing approval text scam?
Avoid calling numbers in suspicious texts, don’t provide any account details or passwords, refuse requests for remote access, never buy gift cards for an alleged refund, and report scam messages. Contact Apple directly if you are unsure about a message.
The Bottom Line
The Apple Billing Approval Notice text scam is growing rapidly and can result in thousands of dollars in losses if users fall for it. The best way to avoid being a victim is to know the warning signs, never call numbers provided in suspicious texts, and refuse any form of remote access or gift card demands.
Being skeptical of all unsolicited calls and texts, guarding your personal information, and contacting Apple independently can help you steer clear of these criminal scammers. Share this information to help warn family and friends before they can be targeted.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
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.
