Beware the Fake “Messages Blocked” Email Phishing Attack
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
The “Messages Blocked” email scam is a phishing attack designed to steal personal information and compromise user accounts. This article will provide an in-depth overview of how this scam works, who is behind it, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself.
Scam Overview
The “Messages Blocked” phishing email claims your inbox is full and you have messages that failed to send to multiple recipients. It includes a link to “fix the problem” along with a note to “verify you are not a robot.”
This email is carefully crafted to appear legitimate. The subject line and message content are designed to panic recipients into clicking the link to avoid “blocked messages.”
However, the email address it comes from is not a real system administrator. The link also does not lead to a mailbox storage page. Instead, it goes to a fake login page controlled by scammers.
Once you enter your email login credentials, cybercriminals can access your inbox, contacts, and account settings. They use this to steal personal information or launch additional attacks.
This scam has skyrocketed in popularity since 2021, with millions of these emails sent daily. Their surge in volume corresponds with the rise in remote work and reliance on email for business communication.
Who is Being Targeted?
The scam targets business email users across all industries and regions. However, Trickbot seems particularly focused on larger organizations in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Employees at any level may receive the phishing email, as cybercriminals use brute force techniques to send mass volumes. C-suite executives and people in finance roles are high-value targets.
Most reports indicate the scam links go to fake Office 365 login pages. This shows Trickbot’s efforts to infiltrate Microsoft accounts for access to sensitive data.
Potential Damages
If you enter credentials into a fake login page, consider your account fully compromised. Criminals can leverage it to:
Access your inbox to send more phishing scams using your identity
Download contacts to target your clients or colleagues
Adjust account settings like forwarding rules or login requirements
Access proprietary data, financial records, trade secrets, or personal information
Install malware like info-stealing Trojans or ransomware
These damages can result in massive financial losses, legal liabilities, and brand reputation harm.
Phishing scams also weaken security cultures by training employees to blindly click links. Ongoing education is essential to avoid real threats exploiting these learned behaviors.
Email Header Analysis
Analyzing email headers reveals signs a “Messages Blocked” email is fake, including:
Mismatched sender and reply addresses
Random garbled strings in place of a sender name
Irrelevant subject lines on enclosed messages
Differences in encoded and displayed sender names
Suspicious origin servers from non-corporate IP ranges
Relying solely on header analysis has limitations, however, as scammers constantly test new techniques to mimic legitimate emails. Do not ignore your intuition if an email just seems “off” in some way.
How the Scam Works
The “Messages Blocked” scam uses psychological tricks and technical deceit to steal credentials. Here is a step-by-step overview of how it unfolds:
1. You Receive the Phishing Email
The scam email lands in your inbox and can easily blend in with other messages.
On first glance, it appears to come from your email provider or company IT department. The subject line is urgent, implying a risk of losing message data.
![Messages blocked email screenshot][]
Deceptive “Messages Blocked” Email
2. You Click the Link
Concerned about a blocked inbox, you click the link without much thought. After all, avoiding data loss is important for your work.
The link often uses a redirected URL to hide the true landing page. For example, it may route through an off-brand URL shortener to seem harmless.
3. You Arrive at a Fake Login Page
Your browser lands on a nearly perfect replica of your email provider’s login screen. All branding, graphics, and text mimic the real site.![Fake login page example][]
Fake Login Page Designed to Steal Credentials
4. You Enter Your Credentials
Believing the site is legitimate, you enter your email address and password into the fake form.
Behind the scenes, the criminals immediately capture your credentials and can access your real inbox using this data.
5. The Scammers Leverage Your Account
With your username and password, the attackers log into your real email account. They can now browse inboxes or reset passwords for other services.
The criminals may enable email forwarding to collect copies of messages over time. Or they immediately start sending their own phishing scams to contacts.
In other cases, they may search for financial records, customer data, or other sensitive information. If they gain access to your entire system, deploying ransomware is also a risk.
6. You May Notice Unusual Activity
Odd activity in your email account may signal it has been compromised. Watch for unexplained forwarded messages, new rules, sent emails you did not send, or password reset notifications.
If you fall victim, immediately change your password and alert IT staff to scan for threats. But the most effective way to stop this scam is by recognizing it before entering credentials.
What to Do If You Fall Victim
If you entered your login credentials through a fake “Messages Blocked” page, take these steps to secure your account:
Reset Your Password
Change your email password immediately. Make it long and complex. Do this from a known safe device, not the compromised one.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Add an extra layer of security by requiring a confirmation code with each login. Generate backup codes in case you lose your device.
Check Forwarding Rules
Look for unauthorized forwarding rules sending copies of your email externally. Delete them.
Scan for Malware
Run a full virus scan to check for any Trojans, keyloggers, or other threats that may have been downloaded.
Contact Support
Alert your IT team or email provider to a potential breach of your account. They can implement extra protection measures like forced re-authentication.
Monitor Accounts Closely
Watch for any unusual security alerts about your online accounts, as hackers may have gained info to compromise other services. Change passwords frequently.
Educate Contacts
If any fraudulent emails were sent from your account, let all contacts know it was part of a phishing scam and they should ignore the messages.
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 about the “Messages Blocked” Email Scam
1. What is the “Messages Blocked” email scam?
The “Messages Blocked” scam is a phishing email designed to trick users into revealing their login credentials. The email claims your inbox is full and messages have failed to send to multiple recipients. It provides a fake link to “fix” the problem and verify you’re not a robot. If you click the link, it takes you to a phony login page that steals your username and password when entered. Hackers then access your account to steal data, contacts, and launch additional attacks.
2. Who is behind the “Messages Blocked” scam?
Security researchers attribute the scam to the Trickbot cybercriminal group. They are involved in identity theft, financial fraud, and ransomware distribution. Trickbot sends these phishing emails globally but seems to target larger organizations in English-speaking countries.
3. How can I recognize a fake “Messages Blocked” email?
Warning signs of a scam email include mismatched sender/reply addresses, suspicious links, unknown sender domains, garbled sender names, irrelevant enclosed message subjects, and other oddities. Compare against a real system notification email to identify differences. The most important clue is an urgent call to action to click a link and verify you’re not a robot.
4. What happens if I click the link in a “Messages Blocked” scam email?
The link sends you to a convincing replica of your email login page. If you enter your credentials, criminals immediately capture them and gain full access to your inbox. They can steal data, contacts, and control your account.
5. How can I stay safe from the “Messages Blocked” phishing scam?
Never click links in suspicious emails, no matter how realistic they look. Instead, manually navigate to your email provider’s website through a known safe link to check your inbox. Implement security awareness training focused on phishing prevention. Enable multi-factor authentication for an extra account security layer.
6. What should I do if I entered my credentials through a “Messages Blocked” scam page?
Immediately change your email password, enable two-factor authentication, check for unauthorized forwarding rules, and scan your device for malware. Alert your IT team to a potential email breach. Monitor accounts closely for suspicious activity and reset passwords on other services if necessary.
7. How can organizations defend against the “Messages Blocked” phishing scam?
Implement ongoing end user education to avoid blind link clicking. Use email filtering tools to block dangerous file types, links, and sender addresses. Enforce MFA and limit public email exposure. Adopt cyber threat intelligence sharing to stay ahead of new variations. Maintain incident response plans for email breach containment.
The Bottom Line
The “Messages Blocked” phishing scam aims to overload recipients with urgency to click on a malicious link. With countless variations, this scam will likely continue evolving in the future.
Stay vigilant for any unusual emails and do not click on links from unverified senders. If concerned about storage limits, access your account directly through a known safe web page.
Implementing security awareness education, account monitoring, and email filtering are also key defenses against “Messages Blocked” and other phishing scams. But ultimately, organizational cyber-resilience depends on each individual avoiding these attacks at the human level.
10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams
Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.
Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.
Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).
If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.
Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.
If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.
Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.
If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.
Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.
If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.
Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.
If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.
Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.
If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.
Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.
If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).
Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.
If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.
Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.
If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.
Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.
These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.
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.
