WISCONSIN — If you get an unexpected call from someone claiming to be with Apple, watch out. If you are not careful, you could get taken by a malicious scam.
Here is how the scam works:
The scammer calls multiple times in less than an hour. If you pick up the call, the scammer will tell you that they are with Apple and that either your iCloud account has been hacked or your computer was hacked. The scammer will then attempt to get you to provide passwords or other personal information, or tries to convince you to work with them via phone to fix your computer.
If your caller I.D. alerts you to this type of call, do not pick up. Keep in mind, Apple will never call to alert you of a hack. If you accidentally pick up, hang up as soon as possible and do not provide any personal information, nor perform any tasks that scammer wants you to do with your computer. If you fear that you were scammed, change passwords on your iCloud account and computer. You can also get help from Apple support or an IT professional.
The frequent calls can be irritating and difficult to stop. Although you can try to block numbers, it may not work for this type of scam because the scammers often change their phone number frequently.
If you do not pick up the phone, the calls may eventually stop. In the meantime, you may want to use the “do not disturb” setting on your phone, turn off the ringer, or let the calls go to voicemail.
