Avoid Getting Locked Out email scam is a phishing attack designed to exploit fear and urgency, tricking users into revealing their login credentials. As per usual, the message contains a threat to lock the user account if they do not follow the fraudulent instructions. In this post, I will go into more detail about this scam and how to avoid it.
Avoid Getting Locked Out Scam Overview
The Avoid Getting Locked Out email is one of many phishing ploys that exploit fear to steal sensitive information like login credentials. Posing as a legitimate alert from a trusted service, it claims the recipient’s account faces lockout or deactivation due to security issues or suspicious activity. This fraudulent tactic, unconnected to any real company, uses urgency to trick users into acting hastily. Its effectiveness stems from mimicking official correspondence, thus being a major risk to anyone who don’t verify its authenticity.
Clicking the provided link and entering login credentials results in stolen account information, allowing cybercriminals to hijack accounts, access personal data, or even conduct financial fraud. While this particular version of the scam does not contain any attachments and relies on an interactive element (a clickable button with a link), there are variations of the scam with attachments.
In either case, interaction with the email may lead to further phishing attempts, as attackers often target victims multiple times once they recognize their vulnerability. So, I strongly recommend that you refrain from responding to such an email, and I will further explain why.
How Does It Work?
The scam starts with an email featuring a subject like “Avoid Getting Locked Out” to seize attention. It warns of compromised account access or an urgent need for action, fostering panic. Crafted with official-looking elements such as logos or familiar formatting, it builds false credibility.
The message directs the recipient to a link for “verifying” or “updating” account details, supposedly to maintain access. Clicking it leads to a fake website mimicking a genuine login page, where entered credentials are harvested by scammers.
There are several red flags indicating that this email is a scam. The first and main is urgent and threatening tone, claiming immediate account lockout, is a common scare tactic used by scammers. In contrast, legitimate companies rarely issue such warnings without prior notifications.
Suspicious sender addresses, often containing misspellings or unofficial domains, further expose the fraud. Embedded links leading to unfamiliar or slightly altered URLs attempt to mislead users into providing credentials on fake websites.
Generic greetings, instead of personalized messages, suggest mass phishing rather than a legitimate security alert. Why would the company call you “Dear Mr/Mrs”, if they have your name? Additionally, real companies do not ask users to verify sensitive information through dodgy links, but instead direct them to log in through official websites.
How to Avoid Email Scams?
Since we’ve figured out how fraud works, what signs to recognize it by, now it’s left to figure out how not to become a victim of this scam. Stay safe by approaching emails of questionable source and contents with caution, especially those that press for instant action or threaten account issues. Real companies rarely operate this way without prior warning. Avoid clicking any links embedded into email messages. Instead, go to the service’s official website directly by typing its address or using a saved bookmark to check your account.
Scrutinize the sender’s email for inconsistencies — a legitimate source uses its proper domain, not a suspicious variant. Hover over links to inspect their destination without clicking; if it looks off, steer clear. Keep software updated with security patches and use antivirus tools for added protection.
If you’ve engaged with the scam, swiftly change passwords and notify the service provider to secure your account. While even the most complex password can be stolen using social engineering techniques, I strongly discourage the use of simple or repetitive passwords. I also suggest you read a separate post on how to properly create and store passwords.
Use an anti-malware solution. This action will help prevent unwanted consequences if the previous steps were ignored. I recommend using GridinSoft Anti-Malware as it has an Internet Security module that can block phishing and malicious sites in real time.
