Yesterday Montville Ohio police took to social media to warn residents about a new scam circulating in the area regarding Apple device owners. Below is the full social media message issued by the police.

"It appears that the scammers are working overtime these days to make up for their loss while they were being quarantined. We have had several calls today, and even some of our officers have received the calls indicating that their Apple Account has been compromised.

Some of our residents have already given the scammers money, believing that the call is really from Apple, and some reports indicate that individuals have received up to 20 calls from them today alone.

So our number one tip is to Hang Up on Them, but if you insist on listening to them please be aware of the following:

Apple never calls people out of the blue to tell you that your account has been compromised. Such calls are scams from criminals trying to steal your personal and financial information.

If you see a message while browsing the web that your iPhone, Mac, or other Apple device has a virus, or someone claiming to be from Apple calls and asks for your account name and password, you’re likely the target of a scam.

Scammers use any means they can—fake emails, pop-up ads, text messages, even phone calls—to try to trick you into sharing personal information, such as your Apple ID password or credit card information. Use this information to protect your account and avoid scams.

Protect your Apple ID

• Never share your Apple ID password or temporary verification codes with anyone. Apple will never ask you for this information to provide support.
• Use two-factor authentication to protect your Apple ID. Learn more about security and your Apple ID.
• If you believe that your Apple ID has been compromised, change your password immediately.
• Avoid scams when using Apple Pay to send and receive money
• When you send or receive money with Apple Pay (US only), it’s just like any other private transaction between two people. Follow these simple tips to avoid scams.

If you see pop-up alerts or ads

When you browse the web, you might see a pop-up ad or a page warning you about a problem with your device. It might even look like the alert is coming from macOS or iOS. It isn’t. These alerts are pop-ups, designed to trick you into calling a phony support number or buying an app that claims to fix the issue. Don’t call the number. Simply navigate away from that page, or close the window or tab, and continue browsing.

If you get a suspicious phone call or voicemail

Scammers spoof phone numbers and use flattery and threats to pressure you into giving them information, money, and even iTunes gift cards. Always verify the caller's identity before you provide any personal information. If you get an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Apple, hang up and contact Apple directly.

If you receive a phishing email or text message

Scammers try to copy email and text messages from legitimate companies to trick you into entering personal information and passwords. Never follow links or open attachments in suspicious or unsolicited messages. If you need to change or update personal information, contact the company directly.

These signs can help you identify phishing scams:

• The sender’s email address or phone number doesn’t match the name of the company that it claims to be from.
• Your email address or phone number is different from the one that you gave that company.
• The message starts with a generic greeting, like “Dear customer.” Most legitimate companies will include your name in their messages to you.
• A link appears to be legitimate but takes you to a website whose URL doesn’t match the address of the company’s website.
• The message looks significantly different from other messages that you’ve received from the company.
• The message requests personal information, like a credit card number or account password.
• The message is unsolicited and contains an attachment.

Please don't fall victim to these scams, and please don't ever give your credit card or bank information to anyone over the phone. Have a Safe and enjoyable scam free weekend, from all of us at the Montville Police Department!

Below are just a few the comments from the Montville Police tweet.