People in Canada who bought iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift cards between January 1, 2016 and September 16, 2026 and lost their value after giving the code to a scammer may qualify to claim a share of the $1.25 million CAD Apple gift card class action settlement. Claims are open through February 20, 2027, after the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement on September 16, 2026.
Current Status
Claims are open. The claim period began October 23, 2026, and the deadline is February 20, 2027: online claims by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and paper claims postmarked by that date. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement on September 16, 2026. Class counsel's fees will be set by a further court order, and no payment date has been announced.Free settlement alerts
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What Changed Recently?
Justice Glustein of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement in Ferracci v. Apple Inc. on September 16, 2026, and the claims process opened on October 23, 2026. The court's approval order records no written objections, two written comments and two opt-outs.The class action, filed in Toronto in August 2020, alleges that Apple gift cards are a popular currency for fraudsters and that Apple could have held and reversed transfers of gift card value to fraudsters and flagged suspicious transactions. It asserted claims under consumer protection law and the Competition Act, and for negligence, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Apple, which did not carry out the scams, denies that it had any responsibility to provide refunds and denies all wrongdoing, and none of the claims were proven in court. A separate U.S. case, the $35 million Barrett v. Apple settlement, covered U.S. purchasers.
Who Qualifies?
The class covers people in Canada who meet all of these conditions:- bought one or more iTunes, App Store or Apple Music gift cards between January 1, 2016 and September 16, 2026;
- gave the card's redemption code to someone they did not know who asked for it under false pretenses;
- were not fully refunded or otherwise compensated for the loss by Apple or anyone else; and
- reported the fraud.
How Much Can You Get?
Apple agreed to pay $1.25 million CAD. Court-approved legal fees, administration expenses and taxes come out first; class counsel told the court it would seek fees of 20% of the settlement plus disbursements and taxes. There is no fixed payment per person. Under the court-approved distribution protocol, the remaining money is split in two:- 75% is shared in proportion to each claimant's eligible loss among claimants whose report of the fraud to Apple the administrator can verify using Apple's information.
- 25% is shared equally among the other eligible claimants.
What Proof or Notice ID Is Required?
No notice ID is needed, but documents are. The claim asks for a name, email address and mailing address, valid government identification, proof of buying the gift cards, such as a receipt, bank or credit card statement or screenshot, and proof that the fraud was reported, such as messages with Apple, the store, the bank or credit card company, the police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The claim form also lists each card's purchase date, store, value and any refund received. No sworn affidavit is required, and the administrator gives at least 30 days to respond if it asks for more information.What Is the Deadline?
Online claims are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 20, 2027. Paper claim forms must be postmarked by February 20, 2027. The deadlines to opt out (August 28, 2026) and to comment on the settlement (August 31, 2026) have passed.How Do You Take Action?
Claims are filed through the official Apple gift card settlement website, which runs a secure online claim portal in English and French. A paper claim form can be downloaded from the same site. The notice says online claims are processed faster, and that no lawyer or claims service is needed to file.What Happens Next?
The administrator reviews each claim, compares it with information from Apple and tells the claimant whether it was approved or rejected, with reasons for any rejection. A claimant can appeal a decision within 30 days under the distribution protocol. Class counsel's fees will be decided by a further court order. No payment date has been announced.Sources and Verification
This page is based on the official settlement website, the court-approved notice of settlement approval and claims process, the earlier notice of certification and settlement approval hearing, the claim form, the settlement agreement dated October 21, 2025 and the September 2026 settlement approval order in Ferracci v. Apple Inc., Apple Value Services, LLC and Apple Canada Inc., Court File No. CV-20-645295-00CP (Ont. S.C.J.). The documents are posted on the official settlement website. It is not legal advice.Questions
Did the gift card scam have to be reported to Apple to qualify?
No. The claim needs proof that the fraud was reported, but the report can have gone to Apple, the store that sold the card, a bank or credit card company, the police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or another recognized fraud-reporting authority. Whether the administrator can verify a report to Apple affects only which share of the fund a claim is paid from.
How is the Canadian Apple gift card settlement different from the U.S. one?
They are separate cases. This settlement, Ferracci v. Apple Inc. in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, covers only people in Canada and is open to claims until February 20, 2027. The $35 million U.S. settlement, Barrett v. Apple Inc. in federal court in California, covered U.S. purchasers and is no longer taking claims.
Can someone who got a partial refund still claim?
Yes. The class covers people who did not receive a full refund or other compensation for their complete loss. The claim form asks for the total value of the gift cards and any amount already recovered, and the unrecovered difference is the loss claimed.
Is there a cost to get paid by cheque?
Approved claimants can choose an Interac e-Transfer or a cheque. According to the notice, $2 is deducted from payments sent by cheque to cover the cost of issuing it.
Can a claim be filed for someone who has died?
Yes. A claim filed for the estate of a deceased class member must include a death certificate and legal documentation showing that the person filing can act on behalf of the estate.
