GoDaddy email scam (fake) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is GoDaddy email scam?

GoDaddy email scam tries to redirect users to a phishing site to obtain their login credentials

Shady individuals use the branding of GoDaddy to trick customers

The GoDaddy email scam has emerged as a significant threat, affecting countless people through a sophisticated and widespread deceptive email operation. These fraudulent campaigns use a large-scale distribution strategy, sending thousands of emails to unwitting recipients.

How the GoDaddy email scam works

The emails used in this scam are expertly designed to look like they came from GoDaddy, a reputable internet domain registrar and web hosting company. These messages falsely inform recipients of an upcoming email account upgrade and deceptively request that they verify their accounts in order to proceed with the alleged enhancement.

Subject: Attention Dear User

GoDaddy

24/7 Support: (480) 505-8821

Dear User,

WE're dedicated to securing your account and serving you better, Your email will be upgraded from Workspace to Microsoft 365 Email.

Until then, we highly recommend all our active customers to validate their email to enable us serve you better with our new improved features.

Ignoring this will lead to immediate closure and loss of your email.

See the below for your Email upgrade

UPGRADE STORAGE

Blake Irving
CEO, GoDaddy

Copyright © 1999-2021 GoDaddy Operating Company, LLC. 14455 N. Hayden Rd, Ste. 219, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA. All Rights Reserved.

It is critical to emphasize that all of the information contained in these deceptive emails is completely false, and they have no affiliation with the genuine GoDaddy, Inc. The subject lines of the fake “GoDaddy” emails frequently include phrases like “Attention Dear User” or similar variations. They claim that email accounts will be moved from the “Workspace” platform to “Microsoft 365 Email.” Recipients are prompted to validate their email accounts in order to initiate this upgrade and gain access to allegedly new and improved features.

In an attempt to persuade recipients to act quickly, the scam messages threaten account closure or blockage if they do not comply. The emails usually include a call-to-action button, such as “UPGRADE STORAGE,” that redirects recipients to a phishing^[1] website that has been cleverly disguised as a legitimate sign-in page.

Crooks use social engineering techniques to trick people into clicking the link

Consequences of falling victim to the scam

When unsuspecting individuals fall victim to the GoDaddy email scam, they face a number of potentially serious consequences. Victims unknowingly give scammers access to their email accounts by entering their login credentials on the phishing website. Because of this unauthorized access, scammers can exploit the hijacked accounts in a variety of harmful ways.

One significant concern stems from the fact that email accounts are frequently linked to multiple platforms and services. Scammers with access to a victim's email account can pose as the legitimate owner and deceive contacts, friends, or followers into providing loans or financial assistance via communication platforms such as emails, social networks, or messaging apps.

Scammers can also use compromised email accounts to distribute malware.^[2] They can infect other users' devices and spread malicious software by sharing infectious files or links. Furthermore, financial accounts associated with the compromised email address, such as banking, online money transfer services, digital wallets, or e-commerce platforms, can be used to conduct fraudulent transactions and make unauthorized online purchases.

In conclusion, trusting the deceptive “GoDaddy” scam emails can expose users to serious privacy violations, financial losses, and even identity theft.^[3] Individuals must exercise caution and remain vigilant against such scams.

Shielding against deceptive email scams: tips for users

By adopting the following measures, individuals can bolster their online security and reduce the risk of falling victim to such fraudulent schemes:

• Be skeptical: Develop a healthy skepticism towards unsolicited emails, especially those requesting personal information or urging immediate action. Verify the authenticity of the email by double-checking the sender's email address and looking for any signs of suspicious or unprofessional content.
• Confirm legitimacy: If you receive an email claiming to be from a reputable organization like GoDaddy, independently verify its legitimacy by contacting the company directly through official channels. Do not use the contact details provided in the suspicious email.
• Update compromised credentials: If you have already fallen victim to the GoDaddy email scam or any similar phishing attempt, immediately change the login credentials of potentially compromised accounts. This step ensures that scammers no longer have unauthorized access to your information.
• Seek official support: Reach out to the official support channels of the platforms or services associated with your compromised email account. Report the incident and follow their guidance on securing your account and mitigating any potential risks.
• Recognize phishing red flags: Educate yourself about common characteristics of phishing emails, such as generic greetings, grammatical errors, urgent language, or requests for sensitive information. By spotting these red flags, you can better protect yourself from falling prey to such scams.
• Maintain security software: Install and regularly update reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software on your devices. These tools can help detect and prevent malware infections, including those distributed through email scams.

Check your system for malware

If you suspect that you opened an infected attachment in an email, you should take action. We recommend using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes security tools to scan your machine, remove it, and prevent future infections by warning you before a malicious program can make any changes.

Crooks frequently disguise their malicious programs as “useful” tools in order to make them more difficult to detect for the average user. People also frequently fail to delete all related files and entries, which can result in the reinfection of an infection. Because the program could have any name or icon, this step is best performed by anti-malware software.

However, if manual removal is what you prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.

Clear cookies and cache

Performance, stability, and usability issues are significant concerns when it comes to email scams and browser security. The repercussions of falling victim to email scams can be far-reaching, sometimes leading to malware infections that wreak havoc on your computer. These infections can cause a range of problems, including altering the Windows registry database, damaging crucial bootup and system sections, deleting or corrupting DLL files, and more.

Once malware damages a system file, traditional antivirus software may not be sufficient to repair it. This is where FortectIntego comes into play. It is specifically designed to address the damage caused by malware infections, offering solutions to various issues that can render your computer unusable. From Blue Screen errors and freezes to registry errors and damaged DLLs, it can help restore your system's functionality.

Another common concern is the accumulation of cookies and cache files. These files not only occupy valuable disk space but can also pose security risks, potentially allowing unauthorized access to your personal information. FortectIntego takes browser security seriously by automatically clearing cookies and cache, reducing the risk of data breaches, and enhancing your online privacy.