The "Yahoo Account Shutdown Notification" Phishing Scam
Yahoo users, be aware of "Yahoo Account Shutdown Notification" email messages like the one below, which claim that you need to verify your Yahoo account because it is almost full. The fake email messages are phishing scams being sent by cybercriminals to steal Yahoo usernames and passwords, by tricking Yahoo users into visiting a phishing website that steals email account credentials.
The "Yahoo Account Shutdown Notification" Phishing Scam
From: Yahoo Mail lafleetmo@yahoo.com
Subject: Yahoo Account Shutdown Notification [Do Not Ignore]
Date: September 11, 2018 at 12:06:19 AM PDT
Reply-To: Yahoo Mail lafleetmo@yahoo.com
Yahoo!
Yahoo! account
Account Notification
Your mailbox is almost full.
1969MB
2000MB
Current size
Maximum size
Your account has exceeded its megabyte limit and needs to be verified.
Verify within 48hours, to avoid account suspension
Click here to verify you email account
Replies sent to this email cannot be answered.
The link in the phishing email message goes to a fake or phishing Yahoo website, which will attempt to trick the potential victims into entering their usernames and passwords on it. If Yahoo users attempt to sign into the phishing website with their Yahoo 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 Yahoo 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 something 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 Yahoo account is hijacked.
For victims whose accounts have already been hijacked, click here for help.
Check the comment section for additional information, or share what you know or ask a question about this article, by clicking the 'View or Write Comment' button below.
Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.