Yahoo users should be aware of email messages like the one below, which claim that their accounts will be deactivated, suspended or terminated. The email messages are phishing scam being sent by cyber criminals to steal Yahoo usernames and passwords, by tricking Yahoo users into visiting a phishing website that steals email account credentials.
Sample of a "Yahoo Account Deactivation, Suspension, and Termination" Phishing Scam
From: Yahoo mail™ <acc0unt-yah00-services-helpdesk@yah00-inc.c0.us>
Date: 8 September 2017 at 12:06:17 GMT+8
Subject: De-Activation Warning !!! Your Email Will Be Terminated Under Yahoo
Y A H O O
Dear User,
Your Account has not been VERIFIED under Yahoo Service and will result to account suspension within 24hrs.
To Resolve this, Visit our HelpDesk link below To Verify your Account now.
https://mg-verify/yahoo.com?helpdesk
Thank You.
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 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 cyber criminals fraudulently.
Remember, if you receive email messages like these, please go directly to your email account at https://mail.yahoo.com, instead of clicking on the links in the email messages. If some needs to be done to 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 and used fraudulently.