Has a black cat crossed Apple’s path? The Cupertino giant settles lawsuit over iTunes gift card scam،
Some will say that late 2023 and early 2024 just isn't the best time for Apple.
We don't know if a black cat has recently crossed Apple's path, but a countless procession of lawyers, prosecutors, judges and prosecutors have passed by.
You can't not have heard about the Apple Watch Series 9 drama that has been unfolding since December 2023; Then the Cupertino giant settled a lawsuit over its Family Sharing feature for $25 million (if you're eligible for a refund, here's how to get one); and finally, a report claims that Apple sold fewer flagship iPhones in 2023 than in 2022.
Now there are more lawsuits
By ReutersApple has agreed to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of knowingly letting fraudsters exploit its gift cards and keeping the stolen money for itself. This looks bad, and Apple's request to dismiss the lawsuit was rejected by U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in June 2022. Judge Davila said the plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that Apple's efforts to disclaim liability, even after victims claimed they were scammed, were “unconscionable.”
It now appears that the two parties have agreed to significant settlements in federal court in San Jose, California, and are in the process of drafting a formal settlement that will be presented to Judge Davila for approval.
The scam, as the report says, involves fraudsters who cause panic or urgency by insisting over the phone that victims purchase App Store and iTunes gift cards or Apple Store gift cards in order to pay taxes , hospital and utility bills, bail and debt collection. .
Victims are then asked to share the codes on the back of the cards, despite a warning on the cards that says: “Do not share your code with anyone you do not know.” »
According to the complaint, Apple would typically deposit only 70% of the stolen funds into the fraudsters' bank accounts and keep 30% for itself as a “commission” for knowingly converting the stolen codes into dollars.
Victims likely lost “hundreds of millions of dollars” in the scam, the complaint states, Reuters reported.
If you (between 2015 and July 31, 2020) purchased gift cards redeemable on iTunes or the App Store and provided codes to scammers, and did not receive funds from Apple, this lawsuit may be your fortune cookie and the opportunity to get a refund. .
