Yahoo users, be aware of "Request To Close Down Your Email Account" email messages like the one below, which claim that a request to close down your accounts is being processed. The 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 Request To Close Down Your Email Account" Phishing Scam
From: Julie Dembek Julie@ironsideig.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 2:19:20 PM EST
Subject: Important Message Alert
YAHOO
Dear Valued User,
We received your request to close down your email account.
We will process your request within 24 hours.
If this was you, you don't need to do anything else. If it was not you, Kindly sign
in to Cancel the request by visiting: https://login.yahoo.com/account/cancel-request
Failure to follow this notification will lead to All files on your Email including
(Inbox, Sent, Spam, Trash, Draft) will be deleted and access to your Email
will be DENIED if you ignore this notification.
Thanks,
Yahoo
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.