USAA customers are asked to delete and not follow the instructions in email messages that claim that their online banking accounts have been locked. The email messages (see a sample below) are phishing scams that are being sent by cybercriminals to frighten their potential victims into clicking on a link within the same email messages, which go to phishing websites that steal USAA account credentials (usernames and passwords).
USAA cutomers who have already been tricked by the phishing email messages are asked to change their passwords and contact USAA immediately, before their money is stolen, online accounts hijacked and used fraudulently by cybercriminals.
A Sample of the USAA Phishing Email
From: USAA downey.189@osu.edu
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2016 5:46 AM
Subject: Verification!
Our Valued Customer,
Your online banking account has been locked due to several unsuccessful attempts to access your account.
Click here to unlock and regain access to your account
Thank you for using our service.
Head of Customer Communications.
USAA.
USAA users should never click on a link to sign into their online accounts. They should always go directly to https://www.usaa.com/ and sign into their accounts from there. Once they have signed in, they will be notified of changes, verifications or updates that need to be done to their accounts.