PacBell users who have received email messages like the one below, which claim that their accounts are outdated, have expired and should be switched to a new version in order to avoid disconnection, should delete the same messages and not follow the instructions in them. This is because the email messages are being sent by cybercriminals to trick Pacbell users into visiting a phishing or fake Yahoo website that steals account credentials (usernames and passwords).
The "Your PacBell Mail is Outdated and has Expired" Phishing Scam
From: "Pacbell" <dmatthews@efschools.net>
Subject: New Policy
Date: June 4, 2018 at 5:44:34 AM PDT
AT&T Yahoo
Your Pacbell mail is outdated and has expired.
You're advise to switch to the new version to avoid disconnection
According to provision of Term and conditions, Pacbell service may at anytime terminate it's service for accounts.
Renew below
Log in ( https:/pacbell.net )
This link will remain active throughout the enrollment period, which expires on June 04 2018
Note: Failure to comply within 48hrs might lead to permanent deactivation
Sincerely,
Š 2018 Pacbell Customer Care Team
PacBell users who have already been tricked by the same phishing email messages are asked to change their passwords before their accounts are hijacked and used fraudulently by cybercriminals. Yahoo users whose accounts have already been hijacked can go to https:/www.pacbell.net and click the "Trouble Signing in?" link to recover their accounts.
To protect against phishing scams, Yahoo users should never click on a link to sign into their accounts, they should instead go directly to https:/www.pacbell.net or use the Yahoo mobile app. Once users have signed into their accounts they will be notified of changes, requests, or updates if there is any.