Notice: Apple ID Balances in Singapore Cannot Be Spent Starting July 1

[MacRumors]

Starting on July 1, 2024, it will no longer be possible to spend an Apple ID balance in Singapore, according to an Apple support document spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Apple did not provide an explanation for this decision, but it appears to relate to new regulations introduced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. In general, gift cards are frequently involved in scams that defraud people.

Apple says that any App Store & iTunes gift cards added to an Apple ID balance before July 1 can still be used toward digital purchases until that deadline.

Apple will issue refunds to customers with a remaining Apple ID balance after the deadline:

After spending your balance is no longer possible, Apple will begin to automatically issue refunds for any remaining Apple ID balance to users in Singapore. If you have a balance, your money will be refunded to the default credit or debit card on file as a payment method for your Apple ID. You'll receive a confirmation email when Apple has processed your refund. Afterwards, it might take up to 30 days for your financial institution to show the refund in your account.

Apple already stopped selling gift cards in Singapore last year, and discontinuing Apple ID balances appears to be a related decision.

Apple Store gift cards are unaffected by this change, and they can continue to be used at the three Apple Store locations in Singapore.

For more important details, read Apple's support document.

Article Link: Notice: Apple ID Balances in Singapore Cannot Be Spent Starting July 1

 

[vegetassj4]

“no longer be possible to spend an Apple ID balance…”

Well, it isn’t named Singarich….

 

[sw1tcher]

Starting July 1, it will no longer be possible to spend an Apple ID balance in Singapore, according to an Apple support document spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Apple did not provide an explanation for this decision, but it appears to relate to new regulations introduced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Apple already stopped selling gift cards in Singapore last year, and discontinuing Apple ID balances appears to be a related decision.

Too many instances of gift card scams and elderly abuse

Victims lose over $987k to iTunes and Google Play gift card e-mail scams targeting businesses since Jan 2019

SINGAPORE - Police on Monday (Jan 20) warned businesses against falling for e-mail impersonation scams involving iTunes and Google Play cards, with more than $987,000 lost since January 2019. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Elderly man in Yishun 7-Eleven seen buying S$1,000 worth of iTunes gift cards, fellow customer worried about him

A fellow customer was worried the elderly man might have been a victim of a scam.

mothership.sg

Once bitten, twice not shy: Woman loses over $15k to online love scams

These men stole not only her heart, but also her money. A woman, surnamed Wang, recently fell for a love scam that took over $14,000 from her — months after she fell victim to another love scam that cost her $1,300. The middle-aged woman's encounters with these scammers began in June last year...

www.asiaone.com

Taiwan FamilyMart employee saves S’pore post-grad student from love scammer

The woman, 24, said she was won over after the scammer checked in on her daily while she toured Taiwan. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Delivery couriers targeted in iTunes gift cards scam: Police

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Tuesday (May 10) warned of the re-emergence of scams targeting delivery couriers. There have been several victims since April, with losses amounting to at least S$2,000, said the police. In the first variant scammers would submit

www.channelnewsasia.com

Google stopped selling Google Play gift cards in 2020 for the same reason.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

Too many instances of gift card scams and elderly abuse

Victims lose over $987k to iTunes and Google Play gift card e-mail scams targeting businesses since Jan 2019

SINGAPORE - Police on Monday (Jan 20) warned businesses against falling for e-mail impersonation scams involving iTunes and Google Play cards, with more than $987,000 lost since January 2019. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Elderly man in Yishun 7-Eleven seen buying S$1,000 worth of iTunes gift cards, fellow customer worried about him

A fellow customer was worried the elderly man might have been a victim of a scam.

mothership.sg

Once bitten, twice not shy: Woman loses over $15k to online love scams

These men stole not only her heart, but also her money. A woman, surnamed Wang, recently fell for a love scam that took over $14,000 from her — months after she fell victim to another love scam that cost her $1,300. The middle-aged woman's encounters with these scammers began in June last year...

www.asiaone.com

Taiwan FamilyMart employee saves S’pore post-grad student from love scammer

The woman, 24, said she was won over after the scammer checked in on her daily while she toured Taiwan. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Delivery couriers targeted in iTunes gift cards scam: Police

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Tuesday (May 10) warned of the re-emergence of scams targeting delivery couriers. There have been several victims since April, with losses amounting to at least S$2,000, said the police. In the first variant scammers would submit

www.channelnewsasia.com

Google stopped selling Google Play gift cards in 2020 for the same reason.

View attachment 2365790

I thought that was probably what it was.

The US should do the same, gift cards are mostly used for scams here too. I'd bet it's the same in the EU.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

D

Too many instances of gift card scams and elderly abuse

Victims lose over $987k to iTunes and Google Play gift card e-mail scams targeting businesses since Jan 2019

SINGAPORE - Police on Monday (Jan 20) warned businesses against falling for e-mail impersonation scams involving iTunes and Google Play cards, with more than $987,000 lost since January 2019. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Elderly man in Yishun 7-Eleven seen buying S$1,000 worth of iTunes gift cards, fellow customer worried about him

A fellow customer was worried the elderly man might have been a victim of a scam.

mothership.sg

Once bitten, twice not shy: Woman loses over $15k to online love scams

These men stole not only her heart, but also her money. A woman, surnamed Wang, recently fell for a love scam that took over $14,000 from her — months after she fell victim to another love scam that cost her $1,300. The middle-aged woman's encounters with these scammers began in June last year...

www.asiaone.com

Taiwan FamilyMart employee saves S’pore post-grad student from love scammer

The woman, 24, said she was won over after the scammer checked in on her daily while she toured Taiwan. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Delivery couriers targeted in iTunes gift cards scam: Police

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Tuesday (May 10) warned of the re-emergence of scams targeting delivery couriers. There have been several victims since April, with losses amounting to at least S$2,000, said the police. In the first variant scammers would submit

www.channelnewsasia.com

Google stopped selling Google Play gift cards in 2020 for the same reason.

View attachment 2365790

Damn Singapore is one hell of a government (by hell I mean good, not bad)

I'm not sure id be able to handle the structure that's crazy strict, but I gotta say, they do things for the good of their people (or they're hiding their nastiness very well , perhaps) . It's refreshing

 

[RealE]

The US should do the same, gift cards are mostly used for scams here too.

Used in scams, yes. More than 50% of gift card usage being scams, doubtful.

It is frustrating that bad actors in this world ruin things for the rest of us.

 

[MacHeritage]

The US should do the same, gift cards are mostly used for scams here too. I'd bet it's the same in the EU.

As long as Canada doesn't. I use Apple Gift cards all the time. I know lots of others use them too. They also make great gifts.

 

[Rafterman]

As long as Canada doesn't. I use Apple Gift cards all the time. I know lots of others use them too. They also make great gifts.

Agree, ridiculous to kill it for everyone.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I thought that was probably what it was.

The US should do the same, gift cards are mostly used for scams here too. I'd bet it's the same in the EU.

Actually they started clamping down with Amazon gift cards in Germany that now require an initial full ID of the purchaser. It's not clear what government authority stores the information though but it got passed into legislation start of this year.