Hampshire Constabulary has issued a warning to residents in Fleet and across the county regarding a rising text message scam targeting mobile phone users. The alert, shared on 10 April 2026 after the force was contacted by Kent Police, highlights a fraudulent scheme impersonating Apple to steal personal and financial information.
In this scam, victims receive text messages claiming that their bank or credit card has been added to an Apple Pay wallet. The message instructs the recipient to call a specific phone number to verify their identity. Police explain that this is a form of text-based phishing, known as smishing, which aims to trick people into providing sensitive details so that scammers can access their money.
According to Apple Inc., the company does not contact customers by text or phone to warn of account issues. They will never ask for PINs, passwords, or security codes, nor will they send messages containing links or request that users download software.
Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant. If you receive a suspicious message, you should forward it to 7726, which is the national service for reporting spam. After forwarding, you should block the sender and delete the text immediately. If you have been targeted, you can report the incident to Report Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or by visiting their website.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
