Email scams are on the rise, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated techniques to trick unsuspecting victims. One such prevalent scam is the “Email Account Storage Limit Is Almost Full” phishing email. This fraudulent email aims to steal sensitive information by urging recipients to upgrade their account storage limit.
This comprehensive guide will provide an in-depth look at how this scam works, how to identify it, the potential risks and repercussions, and most importantly, how to protect yourself. With online security threats increasing, awareness and education are key to staying safe.
Overview of the Scam
The “Email Account Storage Limit Is Almost Full” scam email pretends to be an alert from the recipient’s email service provider. It typically contains alarming claims that the account’s storage limit has nearly reached capacity.
Failure to immediately upgrade this limit will supposedly result in an inability to send or receive messages, eventually leading to account suspension. The email urges urgent action by clicking on an “Upgrade Now” link or button.
In reality, this is a phishing scam orchestrated by cybercriminals. The email is not associated with any legitimate email provider. The claims of reaching storage capacity and account suspension are false, intended only to trick victims.
This scam preys on recipients’ fear of losing access to an important email account. By instilling a sense of urgency, criminals increase the chances that victims will click without thinking. Their ultimate goal is to steal login credentials, financial information, or install malware.
How the Scam Works
Anatomy of the Phishing Email
The “Email Account Storage Limit Is Almost Full” scam email is carefully crafted to look authentic. It will contain several key attributes to appear convincing:
Sender address – Uses a forged email address to mimic a legitimate provider like Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.
Subject line – Contains provocative keywords like “Action Required”, “Security Alert”, “Upgrade Now” to induce urgency.
Logo and branding – Uses the company logo and colors associated with the spoofed email provider.
Formal tone – Written in a professional, corporate communication style.
Threatening claims – The body contains false claims about reaching storage capacity, inability to send/receive emails, and account suspension.
Call-to-action – Prominently displays clickable links or buttons like “Upgrade Now” to enable the scam.
This thoughtful deception tricks casual glance readers into believing the email is from a legitimate source. But on closer inspection, subtle discrepancies become noticeable.
What Happens After Clicking?
Once recipients click on the “Upgrade Now” link, they are redirected to a fake website impersonating a login page. This phishing site is designed to mirror the real login page, encouraging victims to enter their credentials.
In some cases, victims are asked to provide additional sensitive information beyond usernames and passwords. This may include contact details, credit card information, or social security numbers.
After submitting information on the phishing site, victims are typically redirected to the actual email provider’s homepage. This aims to further reinforce the scam’s legitimacy and avoid rousing suspicion.
Meanwhile, all data entered on the fake site is transmitted directly to the scammers. Once in possession of login credentials, criminals can access and takeover victim’s email accounts.
Potential Dangers of the Scam
The implications of having an email account compromised extend far beyond just losing access. Because emails are gateways to many critical services, the risks are immense:
Identity theft – Emails contain sensitive info like names, birthdates, addresses etc. Ideal for stealing identities.
Accessing other accounts – Most online services use email for account recovery and notifications. Criminals can initiate password resets to access other accounts.
Financial theft – Emails may contain bank/credit card statements, tax docs, or login credentials that lead to financial data.
Spreading malware – By hijacking accounts, criminals can email malware links to all contacts.
Blackmail – Private emails often contain compromising information that scammers can use for extortion.
Reputational damage – Accounts can be used to send malicious content that damages professional reputations.
Who is Targeted?
The “Email Account Storage Limit Is Almost Full” scam casts a wide net, aiming to ensnare as many victims as possible. Some key targets include:
General Email Users
Anyone with an email account is vulnerable. Scammers send these phishing emails randomly to millions of addresses acquired through breaches or malware networks. Even savvy internet users can fall victim by overlooking small email discrepancies.
Businesses
Company emails like name@business.com are highly valued by scammers. Access to business accounts can lead to lucrative BEC (business email compromise) scams, targeting vendors, clients, and staff.
Certain Industries
Workers in finance, healthcare, law, and government often handle sensitive data via email. Hacking their accounts provides access to valuable insider information.
Children & Elderly
Young and old email users may be more trusting of unsolicited warnings about account suspensions. Their demographic data is easily available to scammers as well.
Email Providers Impersonated
While all major email providers are spoofed, some see higher volumes of phishing due to their immense popularity:
Gmail – As the world’s largest email provider with 1.5 billion users, Gmail is the most spoofed target.
Outlook/Hotmail – Microsoft accounts are common in workplaces, another prime phishing demographic.
Yahoo – With its simple email addresses, Yahoo is simple for scammers to imitate.
Apple iCloud – Phishers bank on the strong trust users place in Apple’s brand reputation.
Dropbox – Widely used for storing sensitive docs, financial records, passwords.
Facebook/Instagram – These popular social media logins contain a wealth of personal data.
What to do if You Have Fallen Victim
If you suspect your email account has been compromised by the phishing scam, prompt action is necessary to contain the breach:
Step 1: Secure Your Email Account
Immediately change your password – Use a strong, unique one across all accounts.
Enable 2-factor authentication – Adds an extra security layer with login codes from a separate device.
Review recent emails/activity – Check for any unusual emails or actions taken by scammers.
Scan for malware – Run a Malwarebytesscan to detect any viruses or spyware.
Step 2: Notify Contacts
Warn contacts of potential malicious emails – Ask them not to open/click on suspicious content.
Avoid sending sensitive info via email – Use more secure channels when possible.
Step 3: Assess Damage From Breach
Check accounts linked to email – Banks, shopping, social media, etc. Change passwords where necessary.
Monitor credit reports & financial statements – Freeze credit if signs of fraud found.
Reset phone/account passwords – On any account where email password reset was enabled.
Step 4: Report Incident to Relevant Authorities
Contact your email provider – Alert them to disable the account and provide info to security teams.
Inform cybercrime authorities – FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center or local law enforcement.
Report to FTC – The Federal Trade Commission tracks email phishing scams in its complaint database.
Notify workplace IT security – If your work email was compromised, ensure they are aware.
How to Avoid Falling Victim
While email phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, with vigilance and healthy skepticism, users can still avoid becoming victims:
Requests sensitive information -Password, SSN, bank details.
Pressures quick action – Limited time offers or threats.
Verify Suspicious Emails
Contact provider directly – Don’t use contact info in the email.
Check sender address – Copy and paste into browser.
Verify URL links – Hover to preview destination.
Enable Safety Filters
Activate spam filters – Prevent phishing emails from reaching your inbox.
Download anti-phishing tools – Browser extensions that flag suspicious sites.
Use an email verification service – Checks incoming email legitimacy.
Practice General Email Security
Never click unfamiliar links – Even if from contacts, could be hacked.
Beware of any password resets – Unless you directly initiated them.
Use unique passwords – And 2-factor authentication.
Keep contacts updated – So they are aware of any account compromises.
With vigilance and common sense, users can identify and avoid email phishing attempts. But no one is completely immune from sophisticated schemes. Implementing robust email security and threat awareness provides the best protection.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Email Account Storage Limit Is Almost Full” scam?
This is a phishing scam where recipients receive an email claiming their account storage limit has nearly reached capacity. It provides a fake “Upgrade Now” link which redirects to a phishing site to steal login credentials.
How does the phishing email look legitimate?
The scam emails are carefully designed to mimic real warnings from providers. They use official branding and logos, a formal tone, and standard warning language to appear authentic.
What happens after clicking the “Upgrade Now” link?
The link redirects to a fake login page impersonating the real email provider. If users enter their username and password, this information is stolen by scammers.
What do scammers do once they have my account credentials?
They can access and take over your email account to view personal data, steal identities, spread malware, conduct financial fraud, and hijack other linked accounts.
How do I tell if an email is really from my provider?
Contact your provider directly through their official website to verify any suspicious storage limit warnings. Email addresses can be forged, so don’t rely on the sender name.
I clicked the link. What should I do now?
Immediately change your account password and enable 2-factor authentication. Check for any unauthorized activity within the email. Notify contacts of potential malware emails. Monitor financial statements for signs of fraud.
How can I identify phishing emails in the future?
Look for red flags like threats, urgency, requests for sensitive data, and verify the sender address. Enable spam filters and anti-phishing tools. Never click unverified links or provide personal information.
Who is most likely to be targeted by this scam?
General email users, businesses, government/healthcare/finance industries, children and elderly are common targets. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud accounts see high volumes of phishing.
How can I keep my email account secure?
Use strong unique passwords, enable 2-factor authentication, maintain updated software/malware protections, don’t click unknown links, and be wary of any password reset notifications.
Conclusion
The “Email Account Storage Limit Is Almost Full” phishing scam aims to hijack email accounts by capitalizing on recipients’ fear of losing access. By mimicking urgent warnings from legitimate providers, scammers trick users into clicking malicious links and surrendering login credentials.
The implications of email account compromise extend far beyond just email. Complete identity theft, malware infections, financial fraud, and account hijacking are just some of the devastating potential outcomes.
With attacks grown increasingly commonplace, users must remain skeptical of any unsolicited emails and threats. Look for email red flags, verify legitimacy, and implement safety filters. Avoid clicking suspect links or providing sensitive personal data.
While these scams exploit human instinct, through education, vigilance, and secure email habits, users can stay one step ahead of even the most convincing phishing attempts. By understanding the hallmarks of such scams, we can prevent surrendering the keys to our digital lives.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
