Apple’s Warning Is Clear: Don’t Answer These Calls or Texts

If your iPhone has lit up recently with a text about a suspicious package or a missed call from a number claiming to be Apple Support, you’re far from alone. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, and companies like Apple are issuing urgent, repeated warnings about a surge in sophisticated phone and text scams. The advice is stark: do not answer, do not call back, and delete these messages immediately.

These aren’t just annoying telemarketers. They are calculated attempts to steal your money, personal information, and digital identity.

What’s Happening: A Wave of Digital Deception

Authorities are tracking a significant increase in two primary types of scams:

  1. Fake Customer Service Calls: You receive a call, often spoofed to look like it’s from a legitimate company such as Apple, Amazon, or your bank. The caller claims there’s a problem with your account—a suspicious purchase, a locked device, or a compromised subscription. They create a sense of urgency and pressure you to “verify” your identity or provide remote access to your device to “fix” the issue.
  2. Smishing (SMS Phishing) Texts: These messages are designed to trigger a panicked or curious response. Common lures include:
    • “Your package delivery failed. Click here to reschedule.”
    • “We’ve detected suspicious activity on your account. Respond ‘YES’ to confirm it’s you.”
    • “You have an undelivered FedEx/USPS package. Confirm your address at this link.”
    • Fake alerts about winning a prize or a too-good-to-be-true offer.

The goal is always the same: to get you to interact. Clicking a link can install malware or lead to a fake login page that captures your credentials. Calling a number back connects you to fraudsters who use social engineering to extract information or payments.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

This isn’t a minor nuisance. These scams are successful because they’ve become incredibly convincing. Scammers use caller ID spoofing to mimic real company numbers and craft messages that look nearly identical to legitimate alerts. They prey on our instinct to resolve problems quickly.

The consequences of engaging can be severe:

  • Financial Loss: Direct theft from bank accounts or unauthorized charges.
  • Identity Theft: Stolen Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses.
  • Account Takeover: Fraudsters gain control of your email, social media, or financial accounts.
  • Malware Installation: Clicking a link can silently infect your phone, allowing criminals to track your keystrokes or access your data.

When the FBI and Apple feel the need to explicitly tell millions of people not to answer their phones or texts, it indicates the scale and success of the threat.

What You Can Do: Practical Steps to Protect Yourself

The best defense is a combination of skepticism and proactive settings. Here’s a clear action plan based on official guidance.

1. Recognize the Red Flags. Be deeply suspicious of any unsolicited message or call that:

  • Demands immediate action or creates a sense of panic.
  • Asks for personal information, passwords, or verification codes.
  • Requests payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
  • Includes a link or phone number you didn’t request.
  • Comes from an unknown number, even if it looks local or resembles a company’s real number.

2. Follow the “Do Not Engage” Rule. This is the core advice from law enforcement: Do not answer, do not reply, do not call back. If you answer a scam call, even to say “stop calling me,” you signal that your number is active, which can lead to more scams. Simply ignore and delete.

3. Verify Directly and Independently. If you’re concerned a message about your Apple ID, bank account, or a delivery might be real, do not use the contact information provided in the suspicious message. Instead:

  • Open your web browser and go to the company’s official website directly.
  • Use the customer service number listed on your card statement or the official app.
  • Log into your account through the official app to check for alerts.

4. Use Your Phone’s Built-in Defenses.

  • Silence Unknown Callers (iPhone): Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts, Mail, or recent outgoing calls straight to voicemail.
  • Call Screening & Blocking (Android/iPhone): Use your carrier’s spam protection apps (like AT&T Call Protect or T-Mobile Scam Shield) and enable built-in spam filtering in your Phone app settings.
  • Filter Unknown Senders (iPhone): In Messages, go to Settings > Messages and turn on “Filter Unknown Senders” to separate messages from unknown numbers.

5. Report the Scam. Reporting helps authorities track scammers and warn others. You can:

  • Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM). This is a free, universal short code used by most carriers.
  • File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).
  • Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

6. When in Doubt, Delete. If a text seems off, even for a second, trust your instinct. Deleting it is the safest course of action. You will not miss a legitimate, critical alert—important institutions will contact you through multiple, secure channels.

Staying safe requires a shift in mindset. Treat every unsolicited communication as guilty until proven innocent. By recognizing the tactics, refusing to engage, and using the tools at your disposal, you can effectively neutralize these threats and protect what’s yours.

Sources: FBI public service announcements, Apple security guidance, and consumer alerts from federal agencies like the FTC.