A new phishing scam has emerged involving emails that impersonate popular cryptocurrency platform Blockchain.com. The fraudulent emails claim your account is locked and will be suspended unless immediate action is taken. However, these are fake emails aiming to steal login credentials and cryptocurrency funds. This article will break down how to spot, avoid, and report the “Blockchain Account Locked” phishing scam.
The scam begins with victims receiving an unsolicited email claiming to be from Blockchain.com support. The subject line will state something like “Blockchain Account Suspended” or “Your Account is Locked.”
The email content warns that due to suspicious activity or policy violations, your Blockchain.com account will be locked and suspended within 24 hours. It provides a fake case ID number to add legitimacy.
A “Recover Account” link directs to a phishing site mimicking the Blockchain.com login page. If you enter your credentials, the scammers capture your login email, password, and auth codes to compromise your real Blockchain.com account and wallet.
The email is made to look official using Blockchain.com branding and logos. Some even reference recent Bitcoin transactions from your wallet, obtained from public block explorers, to appear connected to your usage.
However, Blockchain.com has confirmed they never send emails threatening account suspension and redirection to a “recovery” portal. The entire thing is a scam to steal login credentials, keys, and cryptocurrency assets.
Here is how the Blockchain.com “Account Locked” email scam looks:
Subject: Blockchain Account Suspended
Blockchain.com Wallet Your account is locked
You’ve sent BTC from your Private Key Wallet. Your future transactions will be suspended in 24 hours from the BTC network. You can also fix this by recovering your wallet using the link.
Recover Wallet
Best,
The Blockchain.com Team
Blockchain.com
Warning Signs of the Fake Account Locked Email
Here are red flags to help identify the fraudulent Blockchain.com account locked emails:
It is unsolicited – you did not request an account review or lock appeal to prompt any notice.
The send address uses an incorrect domain like “@blockchain-secured.com” not the real “@blockchain.com”.
Grammar, wording, or formatting seem off compared to official Blockchain.com communications.
Threatening urgent account suspension within 24 hours pressures you to act rashly. Real investigations take more time.
The recovery link goes to a different domain instead of blockchain.com/wallet-login.
The message asks you to input private keys or sensitive information directly via email, something Blockchain.com would never do.
Details about recent transactions or account activity seem guessed to make the email appear valid.
Your account shows no signs of actual unusual activity or impending locks when logged into Blockchain.com directly.
If you receive an email exhibiting any of these warning signs, do not click the recovery link or provide account information. Log into your Blockchain.com account through the real website to confirm standing.
Clever Tactics Used in the Phishing Attempt
Here are some of the manipulative phishing tactics employed in this scam:
Impersonating a widely used cryptocurrency company many victims likely have accounts with
Using the real Blockchain.com logo and styling to appear as a valid communication
Fabricating account activity alerts and fake case IDs to sound credible
Citing an urgent 24 hour timeline to rush victims into acting quickly
Including “Recover Account” links that actually direct to phishing login portals
Leveraging public blockchain data to reference real-appearing wallet transactions
Claiming account review findings that don’t actually exist
Demanding immediate private key and password entry to unlock accounts
These techniques prey on users’ fear of losing access to their cryptocurrency accounts. The scammers hope victims panic and provide login credentials or keys without thinking it through.
How to Check If Your Account is Truly Locked
If you are ever concerned about your Blockchain.com account status, go directly to the official website and log in to confirm. Check for any actual notices from Blockchain.com within your account inbox.
You can also email Blockchain.com support from your registered email address and ask them to verify if any account locks or suspensions exist on your profile.
Real account investigations take days to complete and involve detailed confirmation emails – not random urgent notices demanding immediate logins.
What to Do if You Entered Your Information
If you already provided your Blockchain.com login details or keys on one of the phishing sites, take these steps immediately:
Log into your real Blockchain.com account and move any funds to a secure wallet completely off the platform. Delete payment methods.
Change your Blockchain password, set up two-factor authentication, revoke any API keys that may be compromised.
Contact Blockchain.com support to notify them your account is likely compromised by phishing so they can monitor for further suspicious activity.
Run an antivirus scan with Malwarebytes in case clicking the phishing link infected your device with malware that could steal browser data or account access.
Closely monitor your account and transaction history for any signs of unauthorized account access, sending funds, or theft. Report irregularities to Blockchain.com support promptly.
Consider creating a new Blockchain.com account and wallet to transfer your assets to while you regain security of the phished one if funds remain stored there.
How to Avoid Falling for the Scam
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of the fake Blockchain.com account locked email scam:
Never click links in unsolicited emails claiming account suspensions – log in directly via the real website.
Verify the send address matches Blockchain.com’s real domain before trusting any urgent notices.
Look for slight differences in logos, formatting, or signature that signal a phishing attempt.
Disregard threats demanding immediate action or lockouts within extremely short time frames.
Legitimate investigations involve multiple confirmation emails and days to resolve – not instant deadlines.
Use unique complex passwords on cryptocurrency accounts and enable two-factor authentication for additional protection.
Be wary of any requests for private keys, password resets, or sensitive account activity via unprompted emails.
With proper skepticism of surprise emails threatening account locks, users can avoid falling for the Blockchain.com credential harvesting scam.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Conclusion
In summary, this scam sends fake emails pretending your Blockchain.com account is locked suddenly to trick victims into inputting their private login credentials and keys on phishing websites. However, Blockchain.com never disables accounts without extensive review and confirmation. If you receive a message demanding immediate login to avoid suspension, it is certainly fraudulent. Take care to always access your Blockchain.com wallet directly through the real website and app to avoid compromising your account, keys, and cryptocurrency assets. With caution, you can protect against surrendering sensitive information to phishing scams even when they appear legitimate.
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
