Apple Warns Customers That SoCal Scammers Are Faking Genius Bar Calls

Apple is warning customers in Southern California of a new scam involving fake Apple Store calls.

Specifically, fraudsters are impersonating Genius Bar staff or other Apple Store employees from the Apple Store at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, California. The company is alerting customers of the issue with an automated message that plays when calling it.

“Apple is aware that some customers are receiving unsolicited calls claiming to be from this Apple Store. If you receive an unsolicited call, you should not provide any information to the callers. For more information on cybercrime and ways to protect your computer, visit www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber. Also, if you feel you have been a victim of fraud, please contact your local police. If you would like help changing your Apple ID password, please visit support.apple.com.”

It appears that Apple adds this automated message to Apple Store calls that become associated with an increase in scam or phishing campaigns.

It’s a golden rule that’s worth keeping in mind: Apple doesn’t make proactive, unsolicited calls to its customers.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Apple, it’s almost undoubtedly a scam. Apple won’t contact you by phone for “iCloud breaches” or “account problems.” In the majority of cases, these scammers are looking to phish your login credentials or financial information.

Scammers are employing even more sophisticated techniques, such as number spoofing. There have been multiple reports over the past year or so of users receiving scam calls from actual Apple numbers.

It isn’t just Apple that’s impacted. Phishing attempts and robocalls are becoming a worsening problem for people across the U.S.

What Do I Need to Know?

To help you avoid getting phished, here are some quick tips and best practices.

• Again, hang up on any calls that claim to be from Apple. If there’s a problem with your account, the company won’t contact you this way.
• Brush up on how to spot scam emails. Email is Apple’s preferred method of contacting customers, but they can also be spoofed.
• If you’re concerned about the authenticity of any message appearing to be from Apple, delete it and contact the company directly through a verified form.

Learn More: This iPhone App Can Finally Help Put an End to Those Infuriating Robocalls