For many years, Apple product owners felt somewhat secure that they were less apt to be the target of computer scams than  owners of PCs where most scammers and identity thieves had been focusing their attention.  However, as exemplified by a new scam designed to obtain Apple users’ IDs, this is no longer the case.  The new scam is a phishing scam by which you receive a phony email that informs you that there is a problem with your Apple ID.  These emails look quite similar to the email you would get when you reset your Apple ID password and look legitimate.  They are not.  The link in the email will take you to a phony website that will solicit information from you that can make you a victim of identity theft as well as download malware on your computer that can steal personal information from your computer.

TIPS

Never click on a link from a source you are not absolutely sure is accurate.  If you receive such an email as described above and believe there is a possibility that it might be legitimate, contact Apple at an email address or telephone number that you know is accurate to find out if the communication sent to you is accurate.  You will find that it is not.  Some more advanced browsers will allow you to hold your mouse over the link on the phony email and the real URL that you will be taken to will be shown.  If it shows a different URL than that of the link or does not name the legitimate company, you can be sure that it is a scam.  Of course, make sure that you do NOT click on the link as to do so will put you at great danger of identity theft.