"Your AOL Mailbox has Exceeded the Storage Limit" Phishing Scam

Comments: 7
Views: 4,729
Updated: Sep. 28, 2014 2014-09-28T23:07:36
Posted: Sep. 28, 2014 2014-09-28T22:47:49
Save
Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

The email message below with the subject: "Your mailbox has exceeded the storage limit," is a phishing scam that steals AOL user names and passwords. The email message was not sent by AOL, but by cyber-criminals, whose intentions are to gain access to their victims' AOL email accounts and use them for malicious and fraudulent purposes.

The "Your AOL Mailbox has Exceeded the Storage Limit" Phishing Email

AOL Mail

Subject: Update

Your mailbox has exceeded the storage limit is 1 GB, which is defined by the administrator, are running at 99.8 gigabytes, you can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.

To renew the mailbox click link below:

Click Here ->http://webmail-updating.com

Thank you!

Web mail system administrator!

WARNING! Protect your privacy. Logout when you are done and completely exit your browser.

The link in the email message goes to a malicious website that looks exactly like AOL's sign-in screen. If visitors to the website attempt to sign-in, their account credentials will be sent to the cybercriminals behind the fake AOL email message. Once the cybercriminals have their potential victims' accounts credentials, they will use it to gain access to and hijack their accounts and for malicious and fraudulent purposes.

Therefore, recipients of email messages like the sample above should never click on the link in them. They should instead, go directly to their email accounts by going to www.aol.com and signing in from there. If there is something wrong with their accounts, it will be shown to them after signing in.

AOL users who have been tricked by the phishing email are asked to change their AOL password immediately. And, if they are unable to, they should contact AOL immediately for help.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search

engine.

Click here help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

Would you share this article with others? +

Yes (0)
No (0)

The comments, reviews or answers below do not necessarily reflect the views of Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

January 4, 2018 at 11:31 AM by an anonymous user from: Sunnyvale, California, United States
I have been currently locked out of my aol account now for over a week. They tell me they are in Romania and my storage is full and therefore my aol account has been cancelled. Since I don't have technical support they want me to buy the right to speak to a technician. When I log on to aol directly I am still out.
remove
- January 4, 2018 at 1:18 PM by info
  <a href="https://help.aol.com/articles/account-management-contacting-aol-customer-service-support" target="_blank">Click here to contact AOL for help.
  remove
May 12, 2017 at 8:56 AM by info
Here is another scam:
"-Original Message-
From: Mail Sender <donnadenning@knology.net>
Sent: Thu, May 11, 2017 7:44 pm
Subject: Incoming Mails On Hold. 2017
Dear Aol User,
Your Aol! Mail has exceeded the storage limit is 1 GB, which is defined by the administrator, you are running at 999.8 gigabytes and you can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.
To renew this mailbox UPDATE NOW
Privacy Policy | Customer Support
©2017 Aol! Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WARNING! Protect your privacy. Log-out when you are done and completely exit your browse."
remove
May 3, 2017 at 11:15 PM by info
Here is another scam:
-Original Message-
From: Mail <rcbaums@fidnet.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Sent: Wed, May 3, 2017 4:45 am
Subject: Limit
Your mailbox has exceeded the storage limit is 1 GB, which is defined by the administrator, are running at 99.8 gigabytes, you can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.
To renew the mailbox,
Click Here
Thank you!
Webmail! AOL Admin"
remove
November 18, 2016 at 8:39 AM by info
Here is another malicious email:
"From: Email Sender <timdugan@fuse.net>
Sent: Thu, Nov 17, 2016 12:30 pm
Subject: Incoming Mails On Hold. 2016
Dear User,
Your Aol! Mail has exceeded the storage limit is 1 GB, which as defined by the administrator is running at 999.8 gigabytes.
You can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.
To renew this mailbox UPDATE NOW
Privacy Policy | Customer Support ©2016 Aol! Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WARNING! Protect your privacy. Log-out when you are done and completely exit your browse."
remove
January 7, 2016 at 5:38 PM by info
Here is another scam:
"From: Arreaga, Yessenia <yessenia.arreaga10759@lexschools.org>
Sent: Thu, Jan 7, 2016 3:56 pm
Subject: S e c u r i t y A L E R T
AOL®
Your mailbox has exceeded the storage limit is 1 GB, which is defined by the administrator, are running at 99.8 gigabytes, you can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.
To renew the mailbox,
Click Here
Thank you!
Web mail system administrator!
WARNING! Protect your privacy. Logout when you are done and completely
exit your browser."
remove
March 27, 2015 at 7:53 AM by an anonymous user from: Berlin, Germany
Received a similar email scam. See below:
"Email Service <sybilsybil45@aol.com>
Your mailbox has exceeded the storage limit is 1 GB, which is defined by the administrator, are running at 99.8 gigabytes, you can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.
To renew the mailbox, CLICK HERE
Thank you!
Web mail system administrator!
WARNING! Protect your privacy. Logout when you are done and completely
exit your browser."
remove

Show More Comments (6)

Show all Comments

Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review

NB: We will use your IP address to display your approximate location to other users.

Enter comment, review or question.

Your post will be set as an anonymous because you are not signed in. Anonymous posts cannot be edited or deleted. Sign-in.