{"id":202,"date":"2019-04-06T19:33:16","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T19:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.syyhoaxanalyzer.com\/?p=202"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T17:00:00","slug":"'Due-to-the-Rate-of-Phishing'-Security-Update-Email-is-Itself-a-Phishing-Scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.syyhoaxanalyzer.com\/?p=202","title":{"rendered":"‘Due to the Rate of Phishing’ Security Update Email is Itself a Phishing Scam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Email<\/a><\/p>\n

In a rather ironic twist, this phishing scam message \u00a0uses the threat of phishing as a cover story designed to trick people into divulging their email account login details. The email, which purports to be from the IT Department for Microsoft Outlook, claims that new security updates are being implemented ‘due to the rate of phishing’.<\/p>\n

It urges you to click a link to sign into the ‘IT Help server’ so that your mailbox \u00a0can be updated. \u00a0The message warns that, if you do not update your mailbox as requested, your account will be made inactive.<\/p>\n

Of course, the email is not from Microsoft or any legitimate IT department. \u00a0If you do click the link, you will be taken to a fake Microsoft Account login page and asked to supply \u00a0 \u00a0your email address and password. But, alas, if you ‘login’ on the fake page, cybercriminals \u00a0can collect your login credentials and use them to hijack your real Microsoft Account. Once they have gained access, the criminals can use your email account to launch \u00a0spam and scam campaigns in your name. \u00a0They can also access and take control of any other Microsoft services connected to the \u00a0account.<\/p>\n

Be wary of any email that claims that you must click a link or open an attached file to perform an account update or deal with a supposed account issue. \u00a0It is always safest to login to all of your online accounts by entering the account address into your web browser or via an official account app.<\/p>\n