Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

"We Noticed that Your Email Account has been Outdated" Phishing Emails
We Noticed that Your Email Account has been Outdated Phishing Emails

Online users who have received e-mail messages (see sample below) claiming that their email accounts are outdated, should not click on the links in the same email messages. This is because cyber-criminals are sending out phishing e-mail messages to potential victims, in an attempt to frighten and trick them into clicking links in the same phishing e-mail messages that go to phishing websites created to steal email account credentials (usernames and passwords). Once the cybercriminals have stolen their potential victims' e-mail account credentials, they will use them to gain unauthorized access to their accounts, hijack the accounts, and use them fraudulently.

A Sample of the Phishing Email

Dear User,

We noticed that your email account has been outdated. Your [email address removed] account has been placed on temporary block, it would be permanently blocked if you do not unblock within 48hours.

Click here to upgrade your mailbox

Note:

Failure to unblock your e-mail account. It will be permanently disabled.

Thank you for using our service.

Instead of clicking on a link to sign into their accounts, online users should always go directly to their e-mail account providers’ websites and sign into their accounts from there. Once they are signed-in, they will be notified of updates, changes or things they need to do.

Online users who have already been tricked by the phishing e-mails are asked to change their passwords immediately, before their e-mail accounts are hijacked and used fraudulently. For those online users whose e-mail accounts have already been hijacked, are asked to contact their I.T support team or email providers for help.

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