A new email scam is currently doing the rounds in Australia.
This one is trying to trick people into giving up their personal information with a fake iPhone 11 competition where the recipient appears to have won a device.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has taken to social media to warn Australians about the scam.
SCAM ALERT! Beware of fake emails about Apple iPhone 11
Scammers pretending to be from Apple are trying to access your personal info—this is a phishing scam that links to a fake web form. It tries to trick you into giving your information. Find out more at https://t.co/mV0IKyVps4 pic.twitter.com/Yu7n7sithA— The ACMA (@acmadotgov) October 9, 2019
The email is part of a phishing scam that links to a fake website that asks for your Apple ID, password and credit card details.
A similar email, which also claims to be from Apple, tells recipients that their iCloud account has been removed and all contents will be deleted within 48 hours. This also offers links to a fake website in order to recover the iCloud account.
If you receive either of these emails report it to Scamwatch and delete immediately. Do not click on any links within the email.
According to ACMA, Apple related scam reports have had a significant uptick since the iPhone 11 was released in September.
The group has some recommendations for spotting a fake Apple email, which can be applied to any emails that ask for personal information.
- Check the sender’s email address (is it really from Apple?)
- Check for grammar and typos (they are an easy giveaway!)
- Is there a suspicious attachment or link? (if so, don’t open it!)
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Apple also has a support page that details how to avoid Apple ID related scams.
If you have been the victim of a scam, head over to Scamwatch for advice and resources.