Macbook Tester E-Mails: SPAM?

[Marrk]

First, Merry Christmas to all, and I hope we all enjoy a healthy and safe New Year 2021.

Question: I've been getting a lot of unsolicited e-mails to be a MacBook tester. I have assumed that these were SPAM, and I have deleted them. But there are so many of them, all directed at me, who just has a MacBook service repair, that it made me wonder if they could be legit.

Your thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[chscag]

Probably SPAM if unsolicited. And, I've never heard of someone being a MacBook tester. Beta tester for software, yes, but usually you need to sign up for that.

 

[pm-r]

Just in case you want to review anything here:

Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

Use these tips to avoid scams and learn what to do if you receive suspicious emails, phone calls, or other messages.

support.apple.com

PS: you can usually expand the sender's E-mail Header which can indicate if they are legit or not.



- Patrick
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[Raz0rEdge]

What is a Macbook tester? Apple releases their software through Developer channels and allows you to beta test it before it's released to the general public. However, Apple does not have anything similar for hardware though.

 

[Marrk]

What is a Macbook tester? Apple releases their software through Developer channels and allows you to beta test it before it's released to the general public. However, Apple does not have anything similar for hardware though.

I don't know what a MacBook tester is. I didn't click on anything, I just trashed it.

 

[IWT]

If you get another, just single click on the sender's name and it will reveal the site from which it came. This is perfectly harmless and I would guess it either comes from the people who did the service/repair (assuming that it was not Apple), or from a spammer whose email address will read like gobbledygook.

Another clue will be the way the sender addresses you - by Dear Sir, your whole name (John Doe), or just a generic name like Customer. Also look at the grammar and spelling. Often giveaways.

Ian

 

[Marrk]

Received two more today. The sender's e-mail was something like "[email protected]" or "[email protected]." The message was to the effect of let us send you a new MacBook to test, and, when you're done, you can keep it.

 

[pm-r]

The message was to the effect of let us send you a new MacBook to test, and, when you're done, you can keep it.

I wonder how much B.S. or phishing is associated with this article???

Or do you really want to sell your soul and body...???

A question you will have to answer yourself I would think.

Have a read here:

How to Become an Apple Product Tester (& Get Free Stuff to Keep!) - MoneyPantry

Want to get free Apple products; Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, etc? Here is how you can become an Apple product tester...

moneypantry.com

- Patrick
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[Marrk]

As far as I'm concerned, it's phishing.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Not quite phishing, it's just a scam. In a phishing attack, the attacker is trying to get your account to access things like bank accounts and other things.

 

[IWT]

@Marrk

The senders' email addresses are as I suggested in post #6 - gobbledegook. Forget about them or set up a rule in Mail to send them to Trash or Erase. Trouble is, they cunningly alter the email address each time they send it making it difficult to set up such rules.

And BTW, there could be a "phishing" component to this: if you followed up the email and said you were interested, my guess is they would say they were going to send you a Mac to test; but ask you to pay a substantial deposit which would be returned at the end of the "testing" at which time you could keep the Mac.

Problem is: the Mac would never arrive and the so called deposit is your loss. They would also have your card details etc.

Ian