User level: Level 1 (4 points)I received the following. Is it fraudulent? This notification concerns reported irregular activity associated with your Apple Pay account. A $473.92 Apple Store transaction has been identified as potentially subject to a temporary hold during security verification.If not, please contact the Support at- *** for assistance. Responding quickly can help prevent further issues.
Apple Security Division!
Need Help?
[Edited by Moderator]
Posted on Oct 21, 2026 2:27 PM
User level: Level 9 (55,707 points)Oct 21, 2026 2:50 PM in response to jschnitt
It's a scam. Do not reply to the notification or use any link or contact information in it.
If you like, you can check your Apple Account, and the credit or debit accounts you have registered as payment methods. (Using official contact information, not any contact information or link in the notification.). You won't discover any $473.92 transaction or security hold, because that is all a lie.
The criminals who sent this lie to you (and likely to thousands upon thousands of others) want to frighten you into contacting them for "help". They're hoping to play on your fear of being ripped off to make you panic, so you will lower your guard and give them the information they need to rip you off for real. Don't give them the satisfaction.
User level: Level 7 (25,870 points)Oct 22, 2026 4:22 AM in response to jschnitt
You can take it that any warning signs, whether from Apple or your bank etc. are scams especially if they say it's urgent and needs immediate attention.
It's urgent because they want you to act without thinking.
If in doubt always contact the organisation concerned via their official websites/phone numbers and never click any link in an email or on a message that appears on your screen.
User level: Level 10 (105,996 points)Oct 21, 2026 2:29 PM in response to jschnitt
Yes it is a scam. Apple never sends out any such message/email and they don't place holds on Apple Pay.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 21, 2026 2:32 PM in response to jschnitt
Thank you. I think my hands have stopped shaking. I'll disregard it.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 22, 2026 6:59 AM in response to Servant of Cats
Thank you so much.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 22, 2026 7:00 AM in response to Ian R. Brown
Thank you so much!
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 22, 2026 7:01 AM in response to Mac Jim ID
Thank you!
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256380492