Right now, AOL email users need to watch for fake “Assistant Message” emails purporting to be from AOL help. The emails cite a supposed account problem and suggest that you access more information by following a link to the AOL Help website.
However, the emails are not from AOL. Instead, they are phishing scams designed to harvest your personal and financial information.
Report continued below...If you follow the link as instructed, you will be taken to a fraudulent website that hosts a fake AOL sign in form.
Next, you will be taken to a fake AOL “Manage My Account” form that asks for your credit card details as well as your social security number, your date of birth, and your name and contact information.
After you hit the “Update” button on the fake form, you’ll see a new web page that claims that something went wrong and your login was unsuccessful. You’ll then be instructed to click a link to “try again”. The link redirects you to the genuine AOL website.
Meanwhile, however, the criminals operating the scam can collect the information you supplied and use it to hijack your AOL account, make purchases with your credit card, and, possibly, steal your identity as well.
If one of these phishing scam emails come your way, do not follow any links or open any attachments that it contains.
