Tipp of the Week

The scammers are at it again. Both Susan and I got a phone call this time around from an unknown number. 

We were driving, my phone rang first, and I sent the call to voicemail. About ten minutes later, her phone rang again with another unknown number; she sent the call to voicemail too. We both got the same message.

It was an AI-generated voice claiming they were trying to authorize a payment on our Apple account for $999.00.

Apple Pay iPhone-16 $999 Scam: What’s Going Around Now-

A growing number of people are reporting calls or voicemails claiming there’s a $999 charge on their account for a new iPhone 16 (or iPhone 16 Pro) via Apple Pay. The message says something like:

“Authorize the payment of $999 for the recent order of an Apple iPhone 16 Pro on your account.

If you do not authorize this payment, please press 1 to speak to our customer support representative.”

This message is almost always unsolicited—many people are receiving it even though they didn’t make a purchase. 

How the scam works:

The call or voicemail uses urgency to scare you: there’s a high-dollar charge you disapproved.

If you press “1” (or call back the number they give), you may get connected to someone pretending to be from Apple or Apple Support. Their goal is to get you to divulge sensitive info (credit card, account login details, maybe even trick you into installing software or giving remote access). 

The scammers vary the phone number each time. Often, people report receiving almost identical messages from different numbers. 

Reactions & official input:

Apple’s forums have users warning each other that this is a scam. 

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, CA, is advising folks to ignore such calls or voicemails, check their bank statements directly, and not call back or press any numbers. 

How to protect yourself: Don’t respond to the number in the voicemail or call you didn’t initiate.

Don’t press “1,” call back, or provide any personal, financial, or account credentials.

Check your account directly (Apple, bank, credit card) using official contact info—not anything given in the suspicious message. Make sure no charge appears.

Block the number and report it to your carrier. These scams often come from different numbers, but blocking helps.

Report the scam to the relevant authorities (local police, the FTC in the U.S.) so they are aware of it.

Stay skeptical of any unsolicited urgent messages demanding your info or claiming there’s an expensive charge.

This is a classic scam using fear and urgency to push people into responding without thinking. False $999 Apple Pay charges for an iPhone 16 are not legitimate calls from Apple. If you receive one, the best course of action is to ignore it and verify independently.

Remember the 9 PM routine! The 9 PM routine is a nightly reminder for residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, secure their residences, turn on exterior lights, and activate all alarms and security systems. 

That is all for this week! Please be safe and care for one another. 

I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)

Do you have a suggestion for the Tip of the Week? Your input is valuable to us. You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com! The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author, who is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.