A growing scam relies on Apple’s popular FaceTime video calling app, with fraudsters using the service to impersonate bank representatives and drain consumers’ bank accounts. <\/p>\n
According to CBS News national consumer correspondent Ash-Har Quraishi,\u00a0the scammers<\/span>\u00a0convince consumers they need to provide information to verify their bank accounts. <\/p>\n Victims first receive a text message about account activity related to their bank or credit card, and are asked to call a phone number included in the text. Other times, they receive a direct call from the scammer, who says they require “additional verification.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n That’s when the fraudster switches from an audio-only call to FaceTime. Victims are tricked into sharing their computer screens with the scammers while they log into their online banking accounts. <\/p>\n “The scammer watches in real-time while victims expose passwords, account numbers and even one-time security codes,” Quraishi said.<\/p>\n Apple\u00a0says<\/span>\u00a0scammers are exploiting FaceTime because consumers generally trust the app and view it as a secure platform.<\/p>\n But the tech giant urges consumers who believe they’re receiving a suspicious FaceTime call from someone posing as a bank representative to take a screenshot of the call.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Tap the “info” button next to the call, hit “take live photo,” and send the image to reportfacetimefraud@apple.com. <\/p>\n Here are other tips consumers should heed to avoid falling victim to the FaceTime scam.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n