Watch Out for Fake Amazon and Apple Calls
June 15, 2021
One of the more frequent scams we’ve seen lately is fake calls from Apple and Amazon support. Here’s what those scams look like and what you can do to protect yourself.
In the Amazon scheme, fraudsters call to inform you of a suspicious purchase, a lost package, or an order they can’t fulfill. The Apple scam is a phony call or voicemail message from “Apple Support” informing you that there’s suspicious activity in your Apple iCloud account or that your account has been breached. In both cases, the scammers create a false sense of urgency to instill fear.
The scammers then ask you to press 1 to speak with a representative or give you a phone number to call. Don’t do either one. That fake representative will ask you to buy gift cards as a way to secure your account. Then they’ll ask for the gift card numbers as proof. Once this is done, it’s too late. The scammers now have free Amazon and Apple gift cards and you will be unable to recover your funds.
Tips to Avoid this Scam
- If you get an unexpected call from Amazon or Apple about a problem, hang up.
- Don’t press 1 to speak with the phony representative.
- Don’t call the fake phone number provided.
- Never give your personal information to anyone who calls you unexpectedly.
- And NEVER buy gift cards to secure your bank account or as a form of payment.
If you think there actually may be a problem with your Amazon or Apple account, log in to your account and contact the company through their online support channels.
If you suspect fraud, please let us know at 1 (800) 479-7928. Find more resources here.
Learn how to protect your accounts from wire fraud, check fraud, romance scams, and more by visiting our online security center at redwoodcu.org/security.
PPP Forgiveness Application Deadline
Congress passed The Economic Aid Act which changed the deferment period from 6 months post covered period to 10 months post covered period. For example, if your covered period ended June 30, 2021, under the new guidelines the earliest your first loan payment wouldn’t be due until April 2022, and you have until then to request forgiveness. Please use the following calculation to help you identify when your forgiveness will be due:
- PPP borrowers may select a covered period anywhere from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
- RCU is automatically calculating your loan due date based on a 24-week covered period, if you intend on using a shorter covered period please inform us immediately as this will impact your due date.
- Your correct deadline will be reflected in your online banking account.
If all or part of your PPP loan is not forgiven, your first loan payment will be due the first of the following month after a decision is made by the SBA.
Leaving Our Website
You are leaving our website and linking to an alternative website not operated by us. Redwood Credit Union does not endorse or guarantee the products, information, or recommendations provided by third-party vendors or third-party linked sites.