Should you receive a phishing email from someone using Apple’s name? It might seem unusual to even answer this question, but why not?

In recent weeks, it has been reported that people using Apple’s email service are receiving messages claiming to be from Apple. Some have even received messages that look like they come from a popular social networking site. The company has since taken steps to alert users of such scam emails.

The apparent request is for the recipient to enter their password, personal details or bank account details. When they do, they will be asked to make a purchase or provide other information to continue. It is the most common phishing scam we see and a new name for a well-established theme.

Apple Phishing Scam

However, there is one thing that makes these scam emails very different. Unlike typical scam emails that involve money or goods, phishing emails generally target people who do not have private information to steal. The goal here is to scare them and make them fall for the ‘sales pitch’ that is usually at the bottom of the email.

If you have never used a service like this before, it can be very surprising. You could be convinced to give out personal information on the Internet. There is nothing to gain and every reason not to get involved.

In the end, it is your decision as to whether you should get involved with any scam email. If it is a legitimate service, you should always treat it like any other email from a company. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

But for those of us who have a new look at this phenomenon, there is one thing we should learn to avoid. We need to protect ourselves against phishing emails, regardless of what they look like. The more of them we get, the greater the danger. Some people have been scammed by scams based on the same technique many times over.

A great way to protect yourself against scam emails is to look for signs. If a message seems to come from an Apple representative, then it is most likely not legitimate. To help you on your quest, here are some tips to help protect you against these fraudulent emails.

Ensure that the email you receive is one that looks like it came from Apple. I’m sure you’ve heard of a business called Apple Computers, a huge company famous for making personal computers. When you get a mail from them, it should be something very similar to this. They should use a special address and even have the ‘macintosh’ logo on the address, as if they were Apple themselves.

Make sure that you read the email over carefully and make sure that the wording you are reading is accurate. Do not click on any links in the message – just ignore it until you get to the bottom of the message. If you notice that they are using words like ‘free’, be careful not to fall for the same scheme – Apple does not offer free software.

If the email says that you have a member card or membership, try to find the contact details for that customer service number. Check to see if you can get in touch with them online or by phone. If you do not receive any kind of response, this should be cause for concern.

To save you time and trouble in the future, take your time and make sure that you do everything in safe directions. Do not get caught up in a scam by allowing it to happen. Remember that every scam email has a name, you only need to take a second to spot it out.