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How I Caught a Scam Text With AI (in 10 Seconds)

A fake Apple text wanted me to pick up the phone. I sent a screenshot to my AI assistant instead.

By Caleb, framer & builder, Oklahoma CityPublished About a 3-minute read

No affiliate links. General education, not financial advice. See the disclaimer.

This morning I got a text from a number I didn't know. It said it was an "Apple ID Account Alert," with a case ID and everything. It said a $483.50 Apple Pay charge at an Apple Store in Orlando, Florida "may need verification," that the verification was "paused awaiting confirmation," and that I needed to call Apple Support right away. If I didn't, there might be "additional security limitations" on my account. It was signed "Apple Security Division."

A few years ago, I might have called. I've lost over $12,000 to scams, so I know how good these people are. This time I didn't call. I took a screenshot and sent it to my AI assistant and asked, "Can you verify this?" In about 10 seconds it told me it was a scam.

Screenshot of a fake Apple ID Account Alert text message claiming a $483.50 Apple Pay charge in Orlando, FL and telling the reader to call Apple Support. The phone numbers are blacked out.
The actual text. I blacked out the phone numbers so nobody calls them.

The red flags

  • It came from a random personal phone number. Apple doesn't text you from some stranger's cell.
  • A made-up case ID. It's there to look official. It means nothing.
  • Urgency and threats. "Immediately," "paused," "security limitations." They want you scared and moving fast.
  • A scary dollar amount from far away. $483.50 in Orlando, when I'm in Oklahoma City. It's built to make your stomach drop.
  • It wants you to CALL them. That's the whole trap. The "agent" on the other end will try to get your Apple ID login, a verification code, remote access to your phone, or talk you into "moving your money to a safe account."
  • Apple doesn't work this way. Apple doesn't text you to call a support line about a charge.

What to do if you get one

  1. Don't call the number and don't reply.
  2. Long-press the message, tap Report Junk, then delete it.
  3. Check your account yourself. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, and look at your devices and recent purchases.
  4. If you want to talk to Apple, only use the number on apple.com: 1-800-275-2273.
  5. Never give anybody a code that Apple texts you. Not even someone who says they're from Apple.

Why this matters if you hold crypto

The same playbook hits crypto all day long. "Your wallet is locked." "Your exchange account is suspended, call support." Fake support agents on Telegram, X, and in texts. Different costume, same con.

Here's the rule: never share your seed phrase or a login code with anybody, ever. No real exchange, wallet, or support team will ask for it. And with crypto, once it's gone, it's usually gone for good.

A free second set of eyes

On a job site you don't pour concrete without somebody checking the forms. Same idea here. Before you call a number, click a link, or send money, run it past an AI assistant. It costs nothing, it takes seconds, and it doesn't get scared the way we do when a text says somebody's spending our money.

It's not perfect, and it doesn't replace common sense. But it caught this one before I did anything, and that's a habit worth building.

For the full list of crypto scam warning signs, read my scam checklist.