No, That’s Not Apple Texting You

The company has said fake Apple Pay alerts are pushing people into scam calls. Here’s what to watch for and what to do if you're targeted

Donna Freydkin,

AARP

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Published April 09, 2026

a person holds an iphone, with red alert icons hovering above the screen

Scam texts posing as Apple Pay alerts use urgency and impersonation to push victims into phone calls that can drain accounts within minutes.

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Key takeaways:

Apple will not call or text you about suspicious activity or ask you to call a number.
A message that tells you to call immediately about Apple Pay is a scam.
Scammers use urgency, authority and personal details to gain trust and push quick decisions.

Consumers are receiving fake Apple Pay fraud alerts urging them to call for assistance. Some victims have experienced devastating losses while attempting to protect their accounts.

Typically, the user receives a text that appears to come from Apple, warning of suspicious activity and including a phone number to call immediately. The call is answered by someone claiming to represent the company. They’re actually a scammer.

The criminals' goals? To get your money or your personal data. Victims are often told to move money to a “safe” account, buy gift cards or send funds through Apple Pay or Apple Cash. Once the transaction is approved, it’s hard to get the money back.

The risk is real: A new AARP survey found that 41 percent of adults 50 and older have already lost money to fraud. The same survey shows that many people still engage with unknown contacts. About 21 percent of adults say they answer calls from unfamiliar numbers at least half the time, and 10 percent respond to unknown texts at the same rate.

How the Apple impersonation scam works

The message typically claims:

A purchase was attempted or declined
Your account is locked or under investigation
Immediate action is required

It includes a phone number or link. If you respond, the situation escalates quickly. The caller claims your account is compromised and insists you act before more damage is done. They may already have personal details such as your address or workplace to build credibility.

From there, the pressure increases. You are told to move money (they may warn that your account has been compromised), share codes or disable security features. Each step lowers your defenses.

Red flags to watch for

Unexpected messages about Apple Pay activity
Instructions to call a number in a text or email
Pressure to act immediately
Requests for passwords, codes or personal information
Directions to move money or lie to your bank

Note that caller ID cannot be trusted because scammers can spoof legitimate numbers.

What Apple will never do

Apple will not call or text you to warn of an issue. It will not send you a number to call. It will never ask for your password, security codes or personal financial information.

Apple states directly: “Apple will never ask you to log in to any website, or to tap Accept in the two-factor authentication dialogue, or to provide your password, device passcode or two-factor authentication code, or to enter it into any website.”

What to do if you’re targeted

If you receive a message like this, do not engage. Do not call the number. Do not click on any links.

Instead:

Check your Apple Pay activity directly on your device.
Contact Apple through its official support site: apple.com/support.
Reach out to your bank using verified contact information.
If you receive a suspicious message, take a screenshot and send it to reportphishing@apple.com.

If you have already engaged with a scammer, stop any transaction immediately and contact your financial institution.

The bigger picture

This is not limited to Apple. Similar scams impersonate other companies, such as Amazon, government agencies such as the IRS, your bank or even law enforcement. They use the same playbook: Create urgency, assume authority and push for immediate action.

The most effective defense is to slow down. Verify independently. Do not act on instructions delivered through a message you did not expect, from a sender you don’t recognize.

If you have questions about scams and fraud, you can call the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for advice and support.

If you are a fraud victim, report the crime to your local police and the FBI at IC3.gov. Find out more about how, where and why to report fraud here.

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The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Donna Freydkin has spent 10-plus years interviewing celebrities for major publications, and has written for a variety of outlets such as USA Today, Allure, Yahoo! and CNN covering topics such as films, family and favorite meals.