Capital One customers who have received email or SMS text message notices or alerts like the one below, which claim that their accounts will be replaced by a new version and they need to upgrade, should delete messages and should not follow the instructions in them. This is because the messages, like the one below, are being sent by cybercriminals to frighten and trick potential victims into clicking on the links in them, which go to phishing websites that steal online account credentials.
A Sample of the "Capital One Important Notice" Phishing Scam
From: Capital One <saver@capitalone360.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2018 10:42 AM
To: Recipients
Subject: IMPORTANT NOTICE
Dear Account Holder:
The Classic version of your Capital One Account Profile will be replaced to a new version in 48 hours, so it's time to upgrade your account interface.
Please logon here to get started with the verification procedures.
Note: To ensure your safety, extra steps have been added to verify your identity.
Best Wishes,
Capital One
Capital One customers who have received messages claiming that they need to do some activity on their accounts, such always go directly to https://www.capitalone.com/ and sign into their accounts. Once they have signed in, they will be notified of security updates, notifications and other important notifications, if there are any. So, there is no need to click on a link in an email message, which may go to phishing or malicious website.
Also, Capital One customers who have already been tricked by the phishing messages, are asked to change their passwords and contact Capital One immediately, before their accounts are hijacked and used fraudulently by cybercriminals.