{"settlement":{"id":"apple-itunes-gift-card-scam-2026","slug":"apple-gift-card-scam-class-action-2026","title":"Apple Gift Card Class Action","category":"Consumer Protection","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Consumer goods","Technology and electronics"],"geographic":["Canada-wide"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Receipts or proof of purchase required","Identity verification required","Other documentation"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Purchased a product"]},"classDefinition":"All persons in Canada, other than Excluded Persons, who bought one or more iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift cards between January 1, 2016 and September 16, 2026, gave the redemption code to a third party unknown to them who sought the code under false pretenses, and did not receive a full refund or other compensation for their complete losses from Apple or any third party. The settlement notice also says claimants must have reported the fraud. Excluded Persons include the defendants and related persons and entities, employees of the law firms involved and their immediate family members, the judges assigned to the case and their staff and immediate family members, and anyone who validly opted out.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you are in Canada, bought an iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift card between January 1, 2016 and September 16, 2026, gave its code to a scammer you did not know, reported the fraud (to Apple, your bank, the store, the police or another authority), and were not fully repaid, you may be eligible for a share of a $1,250,000 settlement.","eligibilityCriteria":["You are a person in Canada.","You bought one or more iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift cards between January 1, 2016 and September 16, 2026.","You gave the gift card's redemption code to someone you did not know who asked for it under false pretenses.","You lost money that was not fully refunded or otherwise made up to you by Apple or anyone else.","You reported the fraud, for example to Apple, the store where you bought the card, your bank or credit card company, the police, or another fraud-reporting authority.","You are not a defendant or related person, an employee of a law firm involved in the case or their immediate family member, or a judge assigned to the case or their staff or immediate family member, and you did not opt out of the class."],"recoveryRange":"No fixed amount. If Apple’s records confirm you reported the scam to Apple, you share 75% of the net fund in proportion to your eligible loss, up to 100% of it. Other approved claimants split the remaining 25% equally.","filingInstructions":"Gather your valid government identification, proof that you bought the gift card(s) (such as a receipt, bank or credit card statement, or screenshot), and proof that you reported the fraud (such as communications with Apple, the store, your bank, the police or another fraud-reporting authority).\nGo to https://www.giftcardsettlement.ca and complete the secure online claim form, listing all of your eligible gift cards on one form.\nIf you cannot file online, download the paper claim form from the website or call the Claims Administrator at 1-888-808-3269 to request one, then send it by email to info@giftcardsettlement.ca or by mail to Verita Global, Apple Gift Card Administrator, PO Box 3355, London, ON N6A 4K3.\nIf you are filing for a deceased person's estate, include a death certificate and legal documents showing you can act for the estate. Other representatives, such as guardians, must attach proof of their authority.\nChoose how you want to be paid: Interac e-Transfer, or a cheque (a $2 fee is deducted from cheque payments).\nSign the declaration and submit your claim by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 20, 2027 (mailed forms must be postmarked by February 20, 2027).","caseBackground":"This class action was started in Ontario against Apple Inc., Apple Value Services LLC and Apple Canada Inc. on behalf of people in Canada who were tricked by scammers into handing over the codes from iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift cards. The case claimed that these people did not get full refunds or compensation for their losses. Apple did not run the scams, denies that it had any responsibility to provide refunds, and denies all wrongdoing. None of the claims were proven in court.\n\nApple agreed to pay CAD $1,250,000 to settle the case, and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement on September 16, 2026. After court-approved legal fees, administration costs and taxes are paid, the rest of the money will be shared among eligible people who file approved claims between October 23, 2026 and February 20, 2027.","administratorName":"Verita Global","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-888-808-3269"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.giftcardsettlement.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@giftcardsettlement.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Verita Global, Apple Gift Card Administrator, PO Box 3355, London, ON N6A 4K3"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"Sotos LLP","classCounselContacts":[{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Sotos LLP, 55 University Ave., Suite 600, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"416-977-0007"},{"type":"phone","label":"Toll-free","value":"1-888-977-9806"},{"type":"email","label":"Email","value":"classactions@sotos.ca"}],"classCounselFirms":[{"name":"Sotos LLP","region":"","contacts":[{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Sotos LLP, 55 University Ave., Suite 600, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"416-977-0007"},{"type":"phone","label":"Toll-free","value":"1-888-977-9806"},{"type":"email","label":"Email","value":"classactions@sotos.ca"}]}],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"online","label":"Online claims portal","value":"https://www.giftcardsettlement.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@giftcardsettlement.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Verita Global, Apple Gift Card Administrator, PO Box 3355, London, ON N6A 4K3"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/6ea1f17e63bbe137592ba2e2-exhibit_i_-_notice_of_settlement__draft_.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/607962a6d0fe426f03bdbfe2-alfq_-_claim_form__english__9.25.2026.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/2e0987aa7a574c5eee1d4bc8-exhibit_i_-_notice_of_settlement__draft__fr.pdf","title":"Avis aux membres du groupe"},{"url":"/uploads/2415c4b2aa424fd8bf8dcdc8-alfq_-_claim_form__french__9.25.2026.pdf","title":"Formulaire de réclamation"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/6ea1f17e63bbe137592ba2e2-exhibit_i_-_notice_of_settlement__draft_.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"/uploads/8b9ac47eb7c264d601e6e027-ferracci_v_apple_inc._et_al_-_settlement_agreement__to_be_approved_by_court_.pdf","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/22fcbc0cd4ae1156ea61e696-alfq_-_claim_form__english__9.25.2026.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"c46fd51c0ff5","url":"/uploads/22fcbc0cd4ae1156ea61e696-alfq_-_claim_form__english__9.25.2026.pdf","name":"Apple Gift Card Class Action Settlement Claim Form","language":"en","description":""},{"id":"8e5247a37007","url":"/uploads/2415c4b2aa424fd8bf8dcdc8-alfq_-_claim_form__french__9.25.2026.pdf","name":"Formulaire de réclamation, cartes-cadeaux Apple","language":"fr","description":""}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"To opt out, a signed Opt-Out Form had to be received by the Notice Administrator by email (preferred), pre-paid mail, or courier by 11:59 pm on August 28, 2026. The form was available as Schedule A to the notice and at https://www.giftcardsettlement.ca. The opt-out deadline has now passed.","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"Class members who wished to oppose, support, or comment on the proposed settlement had to send written submissions by mail or email to class counsel, Sotos LLP, so they were received no later than August 31, 2026; class counsel forwards all submissions to the court. This deadline has now passed. Written submissions were required to include your name, address and telephone number, your reasons, and whether you planned to speak at the approval hearing.","faqs":[{"answer":"Claims can be filed from October 23, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. ET on February 20, 2027. Paper claim forms sent by mail must be postmarked no later than February 20, 2027.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"There is no fixed payment amount. After fees and costs are paid from the $1,250,000 fund, 75% is shared in proportion to loss among claimants whose report to Apple can be verified, and 25% is shared equally among other eligible claimants, so your payment depends on the number and value of approved claims.","question":"How much will I receive?"},{"answer":"You need valid government identification, proof that you bought the gift card(s) (such as a receipt, bank or credit card statement, or screenshot), and proof that you reported the fraud. You do not need a sworn affidavit or a long written explanation.","question":"What proof do I need to submit?"},{"answer":"No. Proof of reporting to Apple, the store where you bought the card, your bank or credit card company, the police, or another recognized fraud-reporting authority, including a government authority, is acceptable. Everyone uses the same claim form and the Claims Administrator decides which payment category applies to you.","question":"Do I have to have reported the fraud directly to Apple?"},{"answer":"The Claims Administrator will review your claim, may contact you for more information (giving you at least 30 days to respond), and will tell you whether it is approved or rejected. If you disagree with the decision, you can request an appeal within 30 days of the decision notice, and if you choose payment by cheque, $2 will be deducted.","question":"What happens after I submit my claim?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"person-in-canada","text":"Are you a person in Canada?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"bought-gift-card","text":"Did you buy one or more iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift cards between January 1, 2016 and September 16, 2026?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"gave-code-to-scammer","text":"Did you give the redemption code of the gift card to someone you did not know who asked for it under false pretenses?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"For example, a scammer who pretended to be a government agency, a company or someone else to get the code from you.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"loss-not-fully-repaid","text":"Is some or all of your loss still not refunded or otherwise made up to you by Apple or anyone else?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"If you got back only part of your loss, answer Yes.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"reported-fraud","text":"Did you report the fraud?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"A report to Apple, the store, your bank or credit card company, the police, or another fraud-reporting authority counts.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"excluded-person","text":"Are you a defendant or related person, an employee of a law firm involved in the case or their immediate family member, or a judge assigned to the case or their staff or immediate family member?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"no","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[{"id":"verified-apple-report","name":"Verified report to Apple","description":"For eligible claimants whose report of the fraud to Apple can be verified by the Claims Administrator using information provided by Apple. These claimants share 75% of the remaining settlement funds in proportion to their eligible loss.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Receipts or proof of purchase required","Identity verification required","Other documentation"],"recoveryRange":"Proportional share of 75% of the remaining settlement funds, based on your eligible loss","eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"reported-to-apple","text":"Did you report the gift card fraud to Apple?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"You do not need to choose a category; the Claims Administrator decides which one applies when it reviews your claim.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}]},"eligibilityCriteria":["You reported the fraud to Apple, and the Claims Administrator can verify your report using information provided by Apple."]},{"id":"other-eligible-claimants","name":"Other eligible claimants","description":"For eligible claimants whose report to Apple cannot be verified, including people who reported the fraud to someone other than Apple. These claimants share 25% of the remaining settlement funds equally, as a flat-rate payment.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Receipts or proof of purchase required","Identity verification required","Other documentation"],"recoveryRange":"Equal flat-rate share of 25% of the remaining settlement funds","eligibilityChecker":null,"eligibilityCriteria":["You are an eligible class member whose report to Apple cannot be verified, for example because you reported the fraud to the store, your bank, the police or another fraud-reporting authority instead."]}],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"For people in Canada who were tricked into giving a scammer the code from an iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift card between 2016 and 2026, reported the fraud, and were not fully repaid.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"2016-01-01","coverageEndDate":"2026-09-16","deadline":"2027-02-20","optOutDeadline":"2026-08-28","objectionDeadline":"2026-08-31","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-09-16","lastUpdated":"2026-10-23","firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-16 22:56:21","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-10-23 13:50:51","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-09-16","languages":["en","fr"]}}