We’re running into more cases of customers coming in telling us they fell for a scam and gave their iCloud password to someone sending a Message. Then they get locked out of their apple account. The user lost access to all the things they use, like Calendars, Contacts, Notes and anything stored in iCloud. 

The core of the problem revolves around one thing….. 

The Trusted Phone number you have on your iPhone. This is the thing Apple figured would not change about your account. But the issue comes when someone takes control of your account. They can add or change the trusted phone number to another one and guess what, you’ll never see that new number because you lost control of the account. You will be asked to verify the number, but only see the last two digits of the number.

This is maddening for users. You fall for a scam thinking you’re talking to an honest person and come to find later it was all a scam.

Recovery options exist. Here's what you need to know:

 Understanding the Trusted Phone Number Issue:

As stated, the trusted phone number is often the crux of the problem. Hackers might change it, rendering any recovery codes sent there useless.

Immediate Action:

Change your iCloud password on a trusted device or another Apple device you still have access to. If none are available, use the iForgot website (appleid.apple.com).

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This drastically increases security by requiring a second verification code after your password.

 Account Recovery:

If you have a trusted phone number or email: Request a verification code and follow the prompts.

If you lack trusted information: Apple's Account Security website (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208326) offers options for account recovery without trusted information. However, this process requires remembering security questions and other details you set up previously.

Contact Apple Support:

As a last resort, contact Apple Support directly for personalized assistance. Explain your situation and provide any information you can to verify your identity.