Online users, be aware of email messages like the one below, which claim that a request or instructions to terminate your accounts are being processed. The email messages are phishing scam being sent by cyber criminals to steal Email usernames and passwords, by tricking online users into visiting a phishing website that steals email account credentials.
Sample of an "Email Account Termination or Deactivation" Phishing Scam
On Monday, June 26, 2017 5:23 PM, Email Security <info@cactusbase.net> wrote:
Urgent Server Warning!
We received an instruction few hours ago to terminate your email account from our server.
You need to confirm you made this request or we will continue with the request.
But if you think it is an error, take action immediately to stop this process, else your email will be closed shortly.
Click here to Stop () shutdown
If you are sure you gave this instruction for your account termination, please ignore this warning and your request will be processed shortly!
Thank You,
Email Security Team
The link in the phishing email message goes to a fake or phishing website, which will attempt to trick the potential victims into entering their usernames and passwords on it. If the potential victims attempt to sign into phishing website with their email 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 accounts will then be used by cyber criminals 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 into your account. And if you were tricked by one of these phishing scams, please change your email account password immediately before your account is hijacked.