Several fraudsters often use phishing tactics to scam Apple Pay and Apple Cash users. Do not click on any links sent via text; you should only send and receive money from people you know.
With the rise of digital payments and mobile banking, several countries have begun shifting to cashless economies. Contactless payments are becoming standardized globally, with Apple Pay playing a part in grabbing the digital payments market.
However, anything that involves money quickly becomes a target for scammers, and Apple Pay is no exception. This article highlights how users can get scammed by fraudsters and what steps they can take to avoid them.
Is Apple Pay Safe for Online Purchasing?
In general, Apple Pay is a safe option for online purchasing. It has a sophisticated authentication process and tokenization features in place, which help prevent any attackers from having malicious intent.
Apple Pay was launched in 2014 to provide users with an alternative to cash payments. Users can link their credit or debit cards to their Apple Pay wallet and use them for contactless payments wherever available.
Apple has taken drastic measures to ensure that hackers do not steal its customer’s data.
No payment system is 100% safe, but Apple Pay offers added layers of protection that other payment applications don’t.
Users are required to use their Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode whenever making a purchase.
Even if their phone is stolen, users can rest assured that their cards cannot be used to buy anything.
Apple Pay also provides more privacy and does not share your card details with online merchants; your sensitive information is always hidden.
Every time a user uses Apple Pay, a Time Passcode (OTP) is generated, which helps Apple hide sensitive card details.
Users can also use the Find My iPhone feature to suspend their Apple Pay wallet if they lose their device.
How You Can Get Scammed Through Apple Pay and Apple Cash
Even with the top-class security features of Apple Pay, there are some methods scammers can use to steal your information or money.
No system in the world is foolproof. There are vulnerabilities that attackers and scammers can use to rob you of your money. You can avoid Apple Pay scams as long as you can identify the red flags and the scam texts fraudsters send on your iPhone.
Here are some of the most common Apple Pay scams that you can avoid.
Phishing – How It Works
Phishing is one of the most common hacking methods fraudsters use to bait you into providing them with your sensitive information.
Users may receive fake emails or texts claiming that Apple Pay has been suspended on their devices.
The message also provides a link that users click to update their information.
The link provided takes you to a page that looks legitimate but is actually a dummy website designed by hackers to steal your data.
Users are asked to provide their names, credit card information, date of birth, and other important information, which the scammers can use to empty their accounts.
Other Ways of Scamming
While Phishing is the most common scam method, Apple Pay users can be robbed of their sensitive data in other ways. These include:
- Unsolicited payments – When scammers use stolen credit card details to “accidentally” send you some money. Once you send it back, they add their account to receive the payment back.
- Using information from a data breach – Scammers might use your information to purchase high-ticket items from online marketplaces.
- Fake lottery – Users receive a fake lottery winning text and a link they need to click. The link takes them to a dummy site where they need to add their sensitive data.
- Hacking on unsecured Wi-Fi – Scammers can use a “Man in the middle” attack to breach your data over public networks where security is negligible.
Tips to Avoid Apple Pay Scams
Users can avoid being scammed using the manual payments option on their phones. Avoid using your data over unprotected internet networks and clicking on links sent via texts or emails.
- While there is no stopping scammers from ruining your digital experience, there are certain steps you can take to avoid getting ripped off by fraudsters. Some of these tips are listed below.
- When using Apple Cash, only transfer money to people you already know.
- Verify all transaction information before fulfilling it.
- Report any unsolicited payment requests from anyone that you don’t know. Users can also filter texts from unknown senders on their phones.
- Identify whether you initiated the conversation if a company requests you to make a payment. If not, it might be a scam.
- Switch to receiving payments manually. Go to Settings> Wallet & Apple Pay. Select your Apple Cash card to open options and select the Manually Accept Payment option.
- Never share your Apple ID or password with anyone. Always be cautious when you are clicking any link received via text or email. Check the SSL certificate of any website when you are viewing it. You can do so by tapping the lock icon near the site URL.
- Always wait for payments to clear before sending back any refunds or contacting Apple support.
- Never enter sensitive data over public networks. Use Virtual Private Networks or VPNs to secure your information if you must.
- Enable two-factor authentication via an authenticator app.
- Regularly scrutinize your bank statements and credit reports.
What to Do if You Got Scammed?
You should immediately cancel all your Apple Pay transactions and file a dispute if you get scammed.
Alas! Even after all your precautions and security measures, you got scammed. What to do now?
Your first step is to try to cancel the payment. In the extremely less likely chance that your scammer has not accepted your payment yet, you might be able to cancel it.
Open iMessage on your phone and locate your conversation with your scammer.
Select payment, and in the Wallet app, click Latest Transaction. If you are unable to see the “Cancel Payment” option there, the scammer has already accepted your payment.
The next step is to report the transaction.
You can file a dispute for the scam transaction by going to Latest Transactions and selecting the scammer payment.
Click on Report an Issue> Incorrect Merchant Info> Merchant Name, Merchant Category, or Other Info.
You should also update your password and enable two-factor authentication if not already enabled.
Contact your bank and let them know of the fraud. They should be able to guide you with the next steps.
Other Important Information
Apple Pay is a fantastic tool that allows users to make payments without worrying about carrying cash or cards.
It has become a target for fraudsters due to its number of users and the volume of transactions.
Is Apple Pay Safer Than PayPal?
Apple Pay is safer than PayPal due to its extensive features and security measures.
Apple Pay does not keep card numbers stored over the web.
Your information never travels, and attackers can’t steal it.
Also, instead of sending card numbers to retailers, Apple Pay sends them a token that they use to complete the transaction.
You can also suspend your Apple Pay wallet using the Find My iPhone feature if your phone gets stolen.
Does Apple Pay Refund Your Money if You Get Scammed?
No, getting your money back once you get scammed on Apple Pay is not easy.
If the payment was accepted, there is almost no chance that the amount will be refunded to your account.
Does Apple Pay Have Buyer Protection?
No, Apple Pay does not have buyer protection enabled since it is a peer-to-peer mobile payment medium.
If you send money to a scammer, it is most likely gone for good.
Conclusion
Fraudsters always try to rob people of their money by stealing their financial information.
You should avoid sending money to people you do not know and always double-check your transactions before completing them.
If you do get scammed, try to cancel the transaction as fast as you can.
You should also contact your bank’s support and request them to cancel the transaction for you.
Getting money back once you have been scammed is almost impossible.
Since they don’t have buyer protection, Apple Pay will likely be unable to refund your amount if you are scammed.
If you found this article to be useful for you, please check more written by me and our team:
- How to Add Money to Apple Pay from Bank Account w/out Card
- Avoid Embarrassment: How to Use Apple Pay at Restaurants
- From Big Macs to Payments: how McDonald’s accepts Apple Pay
- Convenient: Using Apple Pay at Target In-Store and Online
- How to Add Venmo to Apple Wallet and Use Its Balance
- Cash App Vs. Apple Pay (There Is a Significant Difference)
