Methods and apparatus for detecting fraudulent device operation. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a device is issued a user access control client that is uniquely associated with a shared secret that is securely stored within the network and the access control client. Subsequent efforts to activate or deactivate the access control client require verification of the shared secret. Each change in state includes a change to the shared secret. Consequently, requests for a change to state which do not have the proper shared secret will be disregarded, and/or flagged as fraudulent.