Remove “Mailbox Issue Identified” email

The “Mailbox Issue Identified” email is part of a phishing campaign that tries to steal users’ email login credentials. The email is disguised as an alert from the email service provider, supposedly informing recipients that an error has been detected in their accounts. The email asks that recipients log in using the provided link to resolve the issue. However, if users do as the email asks, they will be led to a phishing site that will capture their login credentials and send them to the malicious actors behind this phishing site.

 

 

The “Mailbox Issue Identified” email is disguised as a security alert from your email service provider, falsely claiming there’s a problem with your mailbox. It urges you to log in to fix the issue and prevent any disruptions to your account. Included in the email is a “Login Now” button, which redirects users to a phishing website that closely mimics an official email service provider site, potentially deceiving those who aren’t paying close attention. If users enter their login credentials on this site, those details will be stolen, allowing cybercriminals to access their email accounts if no other security measures are implemented.

Email credentials are highly sought after by malicious actors since they can give them access to a lot of personal information and are usually linked to various other accounts. If an email account is hijacked, it can lead to the hijacking of many connected accounts as well. Therefore, protecting your email login details is very important, as losing access can have severe consequences.

Those who have been successfully targeted by this phishing attack need to change their passwords immediately if they still have access to their accounts. If you’re unable to access your account and all recovery options fail, disconnecting the compromised email address from all associated accounts is necessary to prevent their hijacking as well.

The full “Mailbox Issue Identified” email phishing email is below:

Subject: – Mail Issues Identified

Mailbox ISSUE IDENTIFIED

Dear -,

An error has been detected in your mailbox at -.
To maintain secure and uninterrupted communication, please log in promptly to address and resolve this issue.

LOGIN NOW

This is an automated security alert from the email protection system of -.

Signs of a phishing email

Phishing campaigns that target many users with the same emails tend to be very generic, making them relatively easy to identify. More advanced phishing attempts target specific individuals or organizations because they require more effort and personalization. These tailored emails can appear very convincing, and potentially trick even the most cautious users under the right conditions. Fortunately, most users are not likely to be the target of such sophisticated attacks. By being familiar with common phishing signs, users can usually identify phishing emails with relative ease.

When you receive an unsolicited email that requests immediate action—like clicking a link or downloading an attachment—verify the sender’s email address first before you do anything. In less sophisticated phishing emails, the senders’ addresses may look immediately suspicious. As is the case with this “Mailbox Issue Identified” email as the sender’s address does not have your email provider’s domain in it. That’s an immediate giveaway. However, some attackers employ clever tactics to make their addresses appear legitimate, such as replacing letters (e.g., using “rn” instead of “m”) or adding extra characters to mimic trusted senders.

Additionally, glaring grammar and spelling errors in emails that are meant to come from professional companies/service providers are another giveaway. Many phishing emails are riddled with mistakes and awkward language that wouldn’t be found in legitimate emails. For example, this “Mailbox Issue Identified” email, although brief, has phrasing that feels quite off.

It’s important for users to take their time when examining emails, avoiding the temptation to click on links or open attachments in a rush. Users can hover their mouse over buttons to see where they lead before clicking. Any unsolicited attachments should be scanned with anti-virus software or checked on VirusTotal to ensure they are not harmful before being opened.

Finally, it’s recommended that you avoid clicking on links in emails altogether. If you receive an email about an issue with your account and it asks you to click a link to resolve it, log into your account manually instead of clicking on a link.