By Shelley Polansky
BBB has received reports of con artists calling people across the United States and Canada and claiming that their iCloud accounts have been hacked.
The scam works like this: You get a robocall claiming to be from Apple Support. You Caller ID may say “Apple Inc.” or the name of your local Apple store. The message informs you that your iCloud account was hacked and prompts you to stay on the line and speak to an Apple support “technician.”
If you stay on the line, this “technician” will offer to fix your account. But first, they will need remote access to your computer. Unfortunately, allowing a scammer to access your computer can open you up to the risk of identity theft. Scam artists can install malware that records passwords or hunts for personal information, such as bank account numbers, on your computer. BBB offers the following tips.
Don’t ever give a stranger remote access to your machine: Granting someone remote access to your computer permits them to install malware and access your files.
Don’t believe Caller ID: Victims report falling for this scam because the calls appear to come from Apple Support. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so don’t believe what you see on your phone.
Start with Trust® For more tips or information, visit bbb.org. To report scams to BBB, visit bbb.org/scamtracker.
~ Shelley Polansky, VP/Marketing, Communications & Outreach