The email message below, which claims that the recipients' Apple account has been frozen, is another attempt by cybercriminals to steal their potential victims’ Apple account credentials. The fake email has links in it that go to a phishing Apple website which steals account usernames and password. The phishing website steals account credentials by asking visitors to sign-in with their Apple account usernames and passwords. Now, any attempt to sign into the fake or phishing website will result in the visitors’ Apple account credentials being sent to the cybercriminals responsible for the scam. Once the cyber crooks have gotten possession of the stolen account credentials, they will use it to hijack their victims’ Apple accounts and use the same accounts fraudulently.
The "Your Apple Account is Frozen" Phishing Scam
From: Fraud lTunes hello@studentuniverse.com
Subject: Urgent: Your account is frozen
Date: August 22, 2018 at 1:06:35 PM EDT
Sent on AUG 22, 2018
As you know, your transaction was recently declined. Let us explain so we can make sure it doesn’t happen again. For your safety, we limit the amount of money that goes through your account. We do this to protect you, and us, from the rare occasions of fraud.
Here's how we can fix it:
• Tell us more about yourself, so we know you’re you.
• Link your credit card and use it for AppIe.transactions.
Resolve My Account
Please update your information promptly so that you can continue to enjoy all the benefits of your AppIe.account. If you haven’t been able to complete your transaction yet, we can help you here.
Avoid account suspension
Apple users should never click on a link in an email message to sign into their accounts. They should instead, go directly to https://appleid.apple.com/ and sign-in from there. If there is something wrong with their accounts, they will be alerted after signing in.
Users who were tricked by the phishing scam, are asked to change their Apple account passwords immediately before their accounts are hijacked and used fraudulently. For those users who are unable to change their passwords, are asked to contact Apple Technical Support for help.