Capital One “Security Message” Scam Email Explained – Read This
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
A new email phishing scam claiming to be from Capital One is making the rounds, aiming to fool unsuspecting recipients into handing over their sensitive information. This fraudulent email carries the subject line “Action Required: New Pending E-payment on Your Account” and claims there is a new incoming payment awaiting approval on the recipient’s Capital One account.
While it may look legitimate at first glance, this is nothing more than a phishing scam designed to steal personal information. In this in-depth article, we’ll break down exactly how the Capital One security message scam works, provide tips on how to spot it, and outline steps you should take if you received this deceptive email.
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Scam Overview: Anatomy of the Deceptive Capital One Email
The fraudulent Capital One email is carefully crafted to appear trustworthy and urgent, hoping recipients will take immediate action without looking too closely. Here’s what you need to know about the anatomy of this phishing scam:
The Deceptive Subject Line
The email carries an alarming subject line such as “Action Required: New Pending E-payment on Your Account” or something similar. This is meant to catch the recipient’s attention and imply urgent action is needed on their part.
Spoofed Sender Address
While the email is made to look like it’s from Capital One, the sender address does not actually match Capital One’s real email domains. For example, it may show info@capitalone.com instead of a legitimate domain like @capitalone.com. This is a technique called email spoofing.
Official-Looking Format & Logos
The email is formatted to closely mimic a legitimate Capital One communication, including the use of fonts, colors, and logos used by the real company. This adds an air of authenticity.
Call to Action
A sense of urgency is conveyed, with language stating action is required “for safety reasons” or that the recipient’s account ownership must be verified. This pressures the recipient to act quickly.
Malicious Attachment or Link
The email includes either an attached HTML file or a link to a phishing site masquerading as Capital One’s real login page. Either of these are designed to steal login credentials and sensitive data.
By leveraging these social engineering techniques, the scam email tries to overcome skepticism and trick users into handing over their information willingly. But understanding these deceitful tactics can help expose the scam for what it is.
How the Capital One Security Message Scam Works
Now that you understand the general setup of the phishing email, let’s walk through step-by-step how the scam operates once a recipient takes the bait:
1. Recipient Receives the Email
The scam email lands in the recipient’s inbox and is opened. The deceptive subject line and urgent call to action urge the person to take swift action.
Here is what the scam email might say:
Subject: Action Required: New Pending E-payment on Your Account CapitalOne SECURITY MESSAGE Dear Valuable Customer, This email is to notify you that you have a new incoming payment pending on your account For safety reasons, Please download secure attachment to review payment. Update and verify your account ownership is required as a means to accept your payment. Notice: Account wlll be credited within 24-72hrs after you verify your account ownership Thank you for being a Capital One customer.
2. Recipient Downloads Attachment
Believing the message is legitimate, the recipient downloads the attached HTML file, which is typically named something like “Action Required New Pending E-payment on Your Account.html”.
3. Recipient Interacts with Phishing Page
When opened, the HTML attachment displays a fake Capital One login page. Without realizing it’s a scam, the recipient enters their username and password.
4. Credentials Sent to Scammers
Behind the scenes, the login credentials entered by the recipient are secretly recorded and transmitted directly to the scammers.
5. Account Takeover Initiated
Armed with the stolen login details, the criminals quickly move to access the victim’s real Capital One account or other linked accounts. They may change account passwords to lock out the legitimate user.
6. Fraudulent Activity Commences
From here, the scammers can drain the account, make unauthorized purchases with stored payment methods, or steal the victim’s identity. By the time the recipient realizes it was a scam, serious financial damage may already be done.
As this step-by-step breakdown shows, the scheme exploits a victim’s natural instinct to trust emails that appear to come from an official institution. Avoiding opening unverified attachments can stop the scam in its tracks.
What to Do if You Receive This Scam Email
If this fraudulent Capital One email lands in your inbox, stay calm and take these recommended steps:
Do not open any attachments or click embedded links. Doing so can trigger malicious software or expose your data.
Forward the email to Capital One’s phishing email address: phishing@capitalone.com. Alerting them can help curb the scam.
Report the scam to the Anti-Phishing Working Group so they can warn others.
Contact Capital One via their official customer service line or your branch. Verify no unauthorized changes were made to your real account.
Scan for malware. Run a system-wide malware scan to check for any dangerous software that may have been downloaded.
Change passwords. Update passwords for your Capital One account, email account, and other sensitive accounts as a precaution. Don’t reuse old passwords.
Monitor account activity. Keep a close eye on your account statements to check for any signs of fraudulent use of your accounts. Report any discrepancies immediately.
Install security software. Use robust antivirus software and email spam filters that can detect and block phishing scams before they reach your inbox.
Staying vigilant is key to protecting yourself from possible financial loss through phishing scams purporting to come from trusted brands like Capital One. But arming yourself with information is the best prevention against such devious cyberthreats.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
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 for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
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.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, 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:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
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.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
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.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Capital One Security Message Scam
1. What is the Capital One security message scam?
The Capital One security message scam is a phishing attack where scammers send fake emails pretending to be from Capital One. The emails claim there is a pending payment on your account and that you need to verify your account ownership. The goal is to trick you into downloading malware or entering your login credentials on a fake website.
2. How do I recognize the Capital One security message scam email?
Watch for emails with an alarming subject line like “Action Required: New Pending E-payment on Your Account.” The sender address may look real but slightly misspelled. The email will urge you to act fast to verify your account and may have a attachment or link to a phishing site.
3. What happens if I click the link or download the attachment?
The attachment contains malware that can infect your device. The link leads to a fake Capital One login page to steal your credentials. In both cases, scammers gain access to your sensitive personal and financial information.
4. Should I reply to the Capital One security message email?
No, you should never reply to a phishing email or click any links within it. Replying verifies your email is active, potentially leading to more spam. Notify Capital One directly if you receive this scam.
5. What are some ways to identify and avoid phishing scams?
Be wary of urgent calls to action, closely examine sender addresses, check for slight misspellings, and hover over hyperlinks to see the actual URL destination. Enable multi-factor authentication and install anti-phishing software.
6. What should I do if I entered my details or clicked the link in the email?
Immediately contact Capital One to secure your account. Run anti-virus scans to check for and remove malware. Change passwords on all accounts, not just Capital One. Review accounts for any unauthorized transactions.
7. How can I protect myself from phishing attacks in the future?
Never provide sensitive information unless you initiate contact on an institution’s official website. Check for the padlock icon and “https” in the URL. Install security and anti-phishing software. Closely monitor accounts and report discrepancies fast.
8. Should I report the Capital One security message scam email?
Yes, you can report phishing emails to Capital One at phishing@capitalone.com. Also notify the Anti-Phishing Working Group so they can warn others and work to shut down scam.
9. What will Capital One do if I report the phishing email to them?
Capital One has teams dedicated to phishing prevention. Reporting the scam helps them strengthen email filters, warn customers, and take legal action against scammers. They may also monitor your account for suspicious activity.
10. How can Capital One customers stay safe from phishing scams?
Customers should avoid opening attachments or clicking links from unverified emails. Check Capital One’s website for phishing alerts. Use strong unique passwords and multi-factor authentication. Monitor accounts closely and immediately report concerns.
The Bottom Line
This cunning phishing scam leverages social engineering tactics and urgency to trick recipients into handing over login credentials to Capital One accounts. By understanding common techniques used in the scam email, like spoofed sender addresses and deceptive formatting, readers can ensure they don’t get reeled in. If the fraudulent email reaches your inbox, avoid interacting with it and notify Capital One. With vigilance and security best practices, this prevalent phishing attack can be kept at bay.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
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.
