Email account holders who have received "Mailbox Augmentation Alert" messages like the one below, which claim they need to update their mailboxes in order to avoid service interruption, are asked to delete them. This is because the email messages are phishing scams being sent by cybercriminals to potential victims in an attempt to steal their email account credentials.
The "Mailbox Augmentation Alert" Phishing Scam
From: Mail Admin <mehr_nashmin85@yahoo.com>
Subject: MAILBOX AUGMENTATION ALERT!
Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 7:30 PM
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Hi Customer,
Your mailbox need to be updated to avoid service interruption.
You have less than 12hrs to do so upon receipt of read notification.
Use the link below to continue using this service.
Update Mailbox Here
Thanks,
Email account team
The link in the fake email message goes to a phishing website that will ask visitors to sign-in, but any attempt to sign-in will result in their email account credentials sent to cybercriminals. Once the cybercriminals receive the stolen credentials, they will use it to hijack the accounts and use them fraudulently.
Email account holders who have already been tricked by the phishing scam are asked to change their passwords immediately. For those who are unable to, are asked to contact their email providers for help or use their email account providers' "Forgot Password" option to reset their password so they can regain access to their accounts.