All email users should be on high alert especially if they receive a message claiming to be from YouTube. The hugely popular video-viewing service is warning users that online crooks have launched a phishing campaign which is being used to steal personal data such as email addresses and passwords.
The fake email, which has begun appearing in inboxes across the globe, looks incredibly real with the scammers trying to trick users into clicking on dangerous links by suggesting YouTube access will be blocked if they don't agree to new terms.
"This email has been sent to notify you of the new monetisation policy and the new rules. Please use the link to download the document. WARNING! You have 7 days to review and reply," the message states.
To make things appear even more authentic, the email says it has come from a sender called no-reply@youtube.com - that's an address actually used by the Google-owned firm.
Scammers are often caught out by the address not matching the contents of the message but that's not the case with this latest campaign. To the untrained eye, it looks real and it's easy to see why some people are being duped.
YouTube has now issued an urgent warning with the TeamYouTube Twitter account saying: "Heads up: we’re seeing reports of a phishing attempt showing no-reply@youtube.com as the sender be cautious & don’t download/access any file if you get this email."
An image of the fake message has also been posted to show just how genuine it looks.
If something similar drops into your inbox over the next few days delete it without delay.
For those not aware, phishing is the practice of sending fake or suspicious emails that appear to come from an official company or reputable source. The goal is to steal sensitive data such as your personal information, often including username and password logins for websites.
Here are some top tips from YouTube to help you stay safe.
• The emails may come from an address that looks similar to a company you know and trust, but are slightly different.
• The body of the email will often tell a story to trick you into sharing your account log-in information, it will suggest that you click on a link or open an attachment.
• The email may come from someone pretending to be a media agency assisting you, and ask you to add them as channel owner.
