Scammers keep finding new, honestly, pretty clever ways to fool people. They socially manufacture their phishing emails and messages so well that even the most tech-savvy users have to think twice. One example is the “Apple ID Suspended” phishing scam.

You may have already seen it since it has been around for a few years.

Here’s how it works: You receive an email from what looks like Apple, informing you that your Apple ID has been suspended.

The sender’s name says “Apple”. but the email is actually from a scammer trying to get you to click on a malicious link.

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A woman looks at her iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What you need to know

Apple ID phishing emails have come a long way in recent years. Previously, they were plain text, did not have Apple branding, and did not greet or address the user. Now, however, they look almost identical to the real ones Apple Emails. These scam emails claim that your Apple ID has been suspended to trick you into giving up your login credentials or other sensitive information. They come with an Apple logo, display “Apple ID” as the sender’s name, and have a big blue button that says “Go to Apple ID.”

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The email claims to be from Apple Support, claiming that your access has been suspended due to “unusual activity” or missing or invalid information. It says that you cannot access your account or Apple services until you verify your identity. There is usually a link that leads to a fake Apple site, asking you to enter your username, password, and additional personal information to reactivate your account. To add urgency, it even warns that if you don’t verify your Apple ID within 24 hours, it will be permanently blocked.

A person checking their emails (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Watch out for red flags

If you’re not careful, it’s easy to be tricked into clicking the link in a scam like this. But if you stay alert, there are plenty of warning signs. I’ve added an example phishing email below and you’ll spot the problems immediately. For one thing, it doesn’t actually come from Apple; the email domain is @uaepass.ae, which has nothing to do with Apple. Any legitimate Apple email will end with “@email.apple.com,” so anything else is an instant red flag.

Then there’s the terrible grammar and punctuation. A company worth $3.37 trillion can certainly afford a decent content writer. You know that someone at Apple isn’t going to mix up the past and present like it’s the first time they’ve written an email.

Take this gem: “So we need to double-check your account data. If you haven’t verified your account within 48 hours, your account will be permanently locked, go to Apple ID and check as soon as possible.” Looks like someone broke a bunch of words and ended this day. I’m not trying to give a grammar lesson here, but you get the point.

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“Apple ID suspended” phishing email (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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6 Ways to Protect Yourself from Apple ID Phishing Scams

1. Verify Email Address: Always check the sender’s email address. Any legitimate email from Apple will come from a domain ending in “@email.apple.com.” If it’s anything else, like @uaepass.ae, it’s a scam.

2. Look for spelling and grammar mistakes: Phishing emails often have poor grammar and punctuation. If the message seems strange or seems like it was written by someone who doesn’t know how to write well, be wary.

3. Don’t click on suspicious links: If the email asks you to click on a link, don’t do it right away. Hover over the link to see the actual URL. If it doesn’t look like an official Apple website (or any other site you trust), don’t click on it.

The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to install antivirus software on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, protecting your personal information and digital assets. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

4. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of protection to your Apple ID. Even if a fraudster gets your password, they won’t be able to log in without the second authentication step.

5. Check directly with Apple: If you are unsure about an email or message, go directly to Apple’s official website or contact their support team. Do not use contact details provided in a suspicious email.

6. Invest in data deletion services: Fraudsters often use personal information readily available online to craft more convincing phishing attempts. By investing in data removal services, you can reduce the amount of personal data exposed on the web, making it harder for fraudsters to target you effectively.

While no service promises to remove all of your data from the Internet, having a removal service is ideal if you want to continuously monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. long. Check out my top picks for data deletion services here.

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Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Scammers are getting pretty smart, but you don’t have to fall for their tricks. By remaining vigilant and keeping an eye out for these red flags, you can easily spot these phishing attempts before they catch you off guard. Always check the sender’s email address, watch for bad grammar, and don’t click on any suspicious links. If something goes wrong, don’t hesitate to go directly to Apple’s official website or contact their support team.

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