Google users who have received emails like the one below, which claim that their accounts will be deactivated or removed from Gmail.com server, are phishing scams. The fake email messages are being sent by cybercriminals to steal Google usernames and passwords, by tricking Gmail users into visiting a phishing website that steals email account credentials.
A Sample of the "Google Gmail Account Deactivation" Phishing Scam
From: The Google Accounts <info@linguee.de>
Date: Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Subject: Your account will be deactivated
Hello,
This is to inform you that your request on: 10/30/2017 9:20:14 p.m. to remove your account from gmail.com server has been approved and will initiate in one hour from the exact time you open this message.
Regards.
ignore this message to continue with email removal or
If this deactivation was not requested by you
Please reply us.
Regards,
Google
The link in the phishing email message goes to a fake or phishing Gmail website, which will attempt to trick the potential victims into entering their usernames and passwords on it. If Gmail users attempt to sign into the phishing website with their usernames and passwords, it will be sent to the cybercriminals behind the email scam, who will use the information to hijack their accounts. The hijacked Gmail accounts will then be used by cybercriminals fraudulently.
Remember, if you receive email messages like these, please go directly to your email account instead of clicking on the links in the email messages. If there is anything wrong with your account, it will be shown to you after signing in. And, if you were tricked by one of these phishing scams, please change your password immediately before your Gmail account is hijacked. If your account has already been hijacked, click here for help regaining access to it.