St. Louis Police Warn of New Scam Ripping Off Many in Missouri

I thought I had seen every text scam there was, but what I saw shared by St. Louis Police today is a new one. It's an insidious text scam that has already fooled many in Missouri and there are things you need to know to make sure you're not next.

I saw the St. Louis County Police Department issue this alert today. It's a text scam they've seen many in the region report that claims your Apple ID was just used for a major purchase and they need your help to "secure your account". The opposite is actually true as they'll rob you blind if you follow their links or call that number. It looks very legit and tries to mimic actual Apple ID messages when they're trying to verify account access attempts.

What happens if you follow the link or call the number in the scam attempt text?

The link and phone number are an attempt to get your personal information and your payment information if you're unfortunate enough to fall for this scam. Worst case scenario is the villains could try to steal your identity and your money. 

As the St. Louis County Police Department recommends, contact your local Missouri law enforcement if you fell for this scam. Rule of thumb is never follow links in a text unless you specifically asked for them even if they appear to have come from a reputable source. In the case of this Apple ID scam, don't follow the link and go directly to the Apple website and login to your Apple ID there to make sure there's no questionable activity on your account.