Apple Users Report Suspicious Pop-ups and Bank Card Fraud: What You Need to Know
Lately, a number of Apple users have shared unsettling experiences on social media about receiving pop-up prompts on their iPhones, urging them to reset their passwords. While it sounds harmless at first, for many, this led to bigger problems. After changing their passwords, users reported issues with their lock screen passwords becoming ineffective and, in some cases, their bank accounts showing signs of fraud.
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One such case came from a user in Hebei, China. On February 13th, the user told reporters that after resetting their password, their lock screen password stopped working, forcing them to erase all data from their iPhone. Apple's customer service team confirmed that while fraudulent scammers often imitate Apple's pop-up messages, they are investigating the matter further.
The issue began for many Apple users around February 10th when pop-ups asking to reset passwords started appearing unexpectedly. A user from Handan, Hebei, shared his experience with the press. His iPhone, running iOS 16, suddenly displayed a password reset pop-up. After selecting "Allow," he proceeded to change his lock screen password. However, the phone froze during the confirmation process, and after several failed attempts to unlock the phone with both his old and new passwords, he had no choice but to erase his data to regain access.
To avoid any potential issues, the user also transferred money from his Apple Pay-linked account to ensure his funds were safe.
Many others have shared similar stories. A user from Luoyang, Henan, reported receiving the same password reset pop-up. Despite choosing "Not allow," the pop-up continued to reappear, leading the user to repeatedly unlock and relock the phone. Eventually, after researching online, the user decided to manually change their Apple account password and remove any payment details linked to their account. That finally resolved the issue.
One concerning report came from a user in Jiangxi, who claimed that after resetting their password, their linked bank card was charged multiple times for a total of 1,888 yuan. The charges appeared to be related to game card purchases, suggesting the possibility of unauthorized transactions.
Apple's customer service team responded
When contacted by reporters, Apple's customer service team responded that users needn't worry if they reset their password after clicking "Allow." They assured customers that as long as their account is secure and no one else has access to it, the password should not be compromised. However, they also acknowledged the growing prevalence of telecom fraud, where scammers mimic Apple's official messages to trick users into compromising their account details. The company advised users to select "Not allow" if they are unsure about the legitimacy of a pop-up and to refrain from clicking on any links in the message. If in doubt, users can always go into their settings to manually change their password.
Apple also reassured users that, following reports of this issue, they are investigating the matter and taking steps to address it.
In short, while these pop-ups might seem like a simple glitch, they could be an attempt by scammers to steal personal information. Always stay vigilant and take immediate action if you notice anything suspicious.
Source: 东南早报
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