Apple Pay text scam threatens $8,250 loss in 35 minutes

The article warns about a scam text impersonating Apple Pay that claims an $8,250 charge and a second $8,250 transaction will auto-approve in 35 minutes. The goal is to frighten recipients into calling a scammer-controlled phone number. The piece explains multiple red flags: mismatched international sender and U.S. callback numbers, exaggerated urgency, unnatural wording, vague merchant descriptions, and contradictions about whether the charge is already blocked. It advises users to verify transactions only through Wallet, their bank’s official app, or the number on the back of their card. It also outlines reporting steps for iPhone users, including reporting spam/junk, blocking the sender, forwarding the text to 7726, and emailing screenshots to Apple’s phishing address. Market impact is limited and indirect, mainly reinforcing cybersecurity awareness around Apple-related payment scams rather than moving any financial instrument.