Is This a Fake? A Quick Tech Safety Lesson

Tech scams are getting more clever. They look official, they use real logos, and they often try to scare you into acting fast.

But here’s the good news: with a few simple tricks, you can spot a fake faster than they can say “your account is locked.”  And today, I’m going to walk you

The “Apple Account Locked” Scam

A suspicious message that popped up on someone’s screen. It looks urgent. It mentions Apple. It says something’s wrong with the account. It even has the Apple logo.

But there are a few dead giveaways that scream scam.

🕵️‍♂️ 7 Signs This is a Fake (and How You Can Tell Too)

1. The link looks weird

Real Apple links end in .apple.com. This one? It had some odd dashes, extra words, and looked more like a sentence than a web address.

2. The grammar is off

Look closely — you’ll spot awkward phrases like “Due to unusual activitys your Apple is locked.” Apple doesn’t make grammar mistakes.

3. Scare tactics everywhere

It says “URGENT” and “immediate action required.” Real Apple messages are calm, clear, and non-threatening.

4. It asks you to click a link or call a number

Nope. Apple won’t ever tell you to click on a pop-up to “verify your account.” They’ll ask you to go into Settings or visit appleid.apple.com directly.

5. It’s a pop-up, not a notification

Apple uses native notifications — not random windows that take over your screen.

6. Blurry logos and weird formatting

Apple’s branding is flawless. If the logo looks a little soft, crooked, or off-center, it’s probably fake.

7. It came out of nowhere

You weren’t even doing anything Apple-related, and this just popped up? Huge red flag.

What To Do Instead

• Don’t click. Don’t call. Don’t panic.

• Close the window or delete the email/text.

• Open Safari and type in appleid.apple.com yourself. That’s the only place you need to check your Apple ID.

• Still unsure? That’s what I’m here for. Clients can text me a screenshot anytime.

Final Word: You’re Smarter Than the Scammers

Scammers rely on confusion and fear. But if you know what to look for — and if you have someone like me in your corner — you won’t fall for it.

In fact, share this post with a friend. You might save someone from clicking on something they shouldn’t.

📩 Need help double-checking something fishy?

That’s part of the service. When you’re a Michael Coury Tech client, I’m your personal tech guard dog. No panic, just solutions.