To all Bexley residents and followers of Bexley Watch, please be highly vigilant!
A particularly nasty and aggressive phishing email is currently circulating. It is designed to panic you into clicking a link so scammers can steal your bank details or account login information. We are sharing this alert to ensure no one in our community falls victim.
🛑 What the Scam Looks Like (The Phishing Email)
The email uses the generic name "Cloud Storage" and sends immediate, terrifying threats to get you to act without thinking.
The most urgent elements are:
Subject Line/Core Message: Claims "Your payment method has expired" and "Your cloud account might get disabled soon."
The Threat: It warns that because your subscription couldn't be renewed, "all your photos and videos will be permanently deleted."
The Final Ultimatum: It even includes the terrifying line: "Final Warning: Data deletion in progress. Your account is blocked! All your photos and videos will be deleted today!"
The Goal: It includes a big button saying "CLICK HERE TO UPGRADE PLAN"—this is where the scam takes place.
🚩 Critical Warning Signs – STOP AND LOOK!
Before you click anything, always check these key details. These are the absolute proof that this email is fake:
Fake Sender Address: The email is not from a legitimate cloud provider like Google, Apple, or Microsoft. It's coming from an unprofessional, non-corporate address like valledor24077@hotmail.com (as seen in the screenshot we received). No legitimate company will contact you about payment from a hotmail or similar personal account.
Unprofessional Urgency: Real companies provide time and clear instructions. They do not send "Final Warnings" claiming your account is being deleted today to demand instant action. They want you to panic.
Generic Branding: The email simply uses the word "CLOUD." Reputable companies use their full, clear branding (e.g., Apple iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive).
✅ What MUST You Do?
This is the official advice for anyone in the UK who receives a phishing email:
DO NOT CLICK THE LINK: Clicking the link will take you to a fake website designed to steal your credit card details.
Verify the Truth: If you are genuinely worried about your cloud storage, do not use the link in the email. Instead, manually type the official web address (e.g.,
www.dropbox.com) into your browser, log in securely, and check your account status there.Report the Scam: Forward the entire email to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reporting service:
- Delete It: Once forwarded, delete the email from your inbox and trash.
Be aware, be safe, and look out for your neighbours! Please share this warning with friends and family in the Bexley area.
