![apple itunes scam email apple itunes scam email](https://i2.wp.com/blog.mustcheck.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Spot-the-Scam_Aplle-ID.png)
Tax scams – the scammer pretends to be from the Australian Taxation Office and claim there is a warrant out for their victim’s arrest.Reports to Scamwatch show there are three common scam examples the ACCC is currently seeing where scammers are demanding iTunes gift cards as payment: There are never any circumstances where a legitimate business or government department will ask for payment this way.”Īpple’s website clearly states iTunes gift cards can only be used to purchase goods and services on the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, or for an Apple Music membership. “If someone asks you to pay for anything using an iTunes gift card, it is a scam. “Scammers are increasingly getting their victims to pay with iTunes gift cards as they can quickly on-sell them and pocket the money,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
![apple itunes scam email apple itunes scam email](https://167974-484938-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/storage/posts/May2019/store-apple-com-fake-order-notification.png)
This is a growing trend: in the 2015-16 financial year losses were about $480,000.
![apple itunes scam email apple itunes scam email](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nintchdbpict0003932757831.jpg)
The ACCC is warning people to be on the lookout for scammers who are trying to con their victims into paying for scams with Apple iTunes gift cards.ĭuring 2017 to date, reports to the ACCC’s Scamwatch show 1236 people lost nearly $540,000 to scammers using gift cards as payments. About Scamwatch Expand submenu for "About Scamwatch".News & alerts Expand submenu for "News & alerts".Scam statistics Expand submenu for "Scam statistics".Attempts to gain your personal information.Types of scams Expand submenu for "Types of scams".If they’re asking for payment by an iTunes gift card, it’s a scam.
#Apple itunes scam email code#
Giving that code to somebody is like giving them cash. “Think of those digits on the back of these cards as cash. “Once this is done, the money on the card is quickly depleted by the scammer and the consumer is left with a worthless piece of plastic,” said John Breyault, a vice president at the National Consumers League who oversees the organization’s website. Luke Sharrett / Bloomberg via Getty Images store in Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. iTunes gift cards are displayed for sale in a Best Buy Co. Sometimes, the crook will stay on the phone with the victim as they go to the store and buy the card. This can be done by phone call, text or email. When a fraudulent caller convinces someone to pay this way, the victim is told to go to a store, purchase an iTunes gift card, load money onto it and then provide the 16-digit code on the back of the card. Should you receive a request for payment using iTunes Gift Cards outside of iTunes and the App Store please report it at ftc.gov/complaint.” How the scam works “Any call requesting taxpayers place funds on an iTunes gift cards or other prepaid cards to pay taxes or fees is an indicator or fraudulent activity!” the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration cautioned.Īpple is aware of the problem and has posted this warning notice on the gift card section of its website: “iTunes Gift Cards are solely for the purchase of goods and services on the iTunes Store and App Store. Treasury Department recently issued a scam alert saying that callers impersonating IRS employees or pretending to be with the Treasury Department are demanding payments on iTunes gift cards.