Don’t Get Fooled by a Familiar Face: Watch Out for FaceTime Scam Calls
Scammers are finding new ways to sound legitimate, and their latest tactic uses a tool many of us trust every day: FaceTime.
Apple recently warned customers about a wave of scam calls in which criminals impersonate Apple Support or a customer’s bank over FaceTime. According to security researchers at Malwarebytes, these calls often claim there’s fraudulent activity or a technical problem with your account, then pressure you to “verify” your card number, online banking credentials, or Apple ID information. In some cases, scammers even talk victims into installing remote access software or sharing one-time passcodes, which can give them direct access to your accounts.
What makes this scam effective is that it doesn’t rely on hacking your device. It relies on trust. A real-time video call from a “familiar” name feels more credible than a text message or email, and scammers use spoofed caller ID to make the call appear to come from a legitimate number.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Bank3 will never contact you out of the blue over FaceTime to ask for account numbers, passwords, one-time passcodes, or card details.
- If you receive an unexpected call, whether by phone or FaceTime, claiming to be from your bank or Apple, hang up. Then call the organization back using a number you already know is correct, such as the number on the back of your card or on our official website.
- Never share a one-time passcode with anyone, even someone who claims to be from your bank or Apple support. We will never ask for it.
- If you suspect you’ve received a scam FaceTime call, Apple asks that you report it by emailing a screenshot of the call information to reportfacetimefraud@apple.com. You can also report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Staying alert is one of the best defenses we have against these scams. If something feels off about a call or message, trust that instinct and verify independently before sharing any information.
Sources:
- KnowBe4, “Apple Warns Users to be Wary of Unsolicited FaceTime Calls”: https://blog.knowbe4.com/apple-facetime-scam-calls
- Malwarebytes, “Warning: Scammers are using FaceTime to empty bank accounts”: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2026/07/warning-scammers-are-using-facetime-to-empty-bank-accounts
- Apple Support, “Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes”: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102568
- Federal Trade Commission, report fraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov