Password or billing requests that claim to be from AOL

Sometimes, you may receive scam emails that ask for your username, password or other personal information. Never provide your password or personal details in any email because AOL will NEVER ask you for your password or any billing information through an email. If you receive such emails, simply let us handle them by forwarding it to us at abuse@aol.com.

You can find out if an email you received is an official email from AOL or a billing/confidence scam by looking at the email closely. Explained below are ways to identify such emails and what you can do to protect your account and personal information.

About Official AOL Mail

When AOL needs to contact you for an official reason, you will receive an Official AOL Mail. Official AOL Mail is designed to help you easily identify email that has been sent by AOL, and could prevent you from falling prey to any attempts at misusing your AOL account. Check out AOL Certified Mail to learn how to identify our messages.

Billing request email scam example

Below is an example of an email scam you may receive from someone trying to steal your billing information. This example demonstrates how the scammer attempts to scare you into giving them your information by threatening to close your account. Please report any email like this to AOL as soon as you receive it.

********** AOL WARNING**********

Good day AOL user, we have been notified at our financial department that you have not submitted the right credit card number, telephone number, and billing address with first and last name. Please reply with that information and we will be glad to enter it on the computer for you. If you wish not to reply we will be forced to cancel your account.
Please state the following in order:
1. Current credit card company or bank
2. Number of the card and expiry date
3. Your name
4. Address and state with zip and your home and phone number
5. Number of bank or the back of your card phone number
6. Social Security number
7. Date of birth
8. Mother's maiden name - Regards, Jon Robinson, Community Action Team, AOL Inc.

Confidence scams

Sometimes, people may try to gain your confidence by posing as an AOL employee so that you provide your personal information to them. They may pretend to be an AOL Billing, Community Action Team (CAT) or Security representative. They may also send you a link to a website that looks like an official AOL website but will actually send your data to the wrong people. NEVER respond to anyone asking you for your personal information unless it is an Official AOL Mail.

Change your AOL password and account information

Your AOL password protects your AOL account from unauthorized access. Only people who know your password can sign in with your username; therefore, never reveal your password to anyone.

If you suspect any unauthorized access to your account or username, you should immediately:
1. Change your password. There is no limit on the number of times you can change your password.
2. Update you billing and contact information.
3. Report the email violation.

Report Instant Message violations

If you receive an instant message requesting your password or billing information, you can report the message to the AOL Community Action Team.

To report instant message violations on AOL 9.0 Security Edition and newer versions of AOL software:
1. On the IM window, click Report IM Spam.
2. Click OK.

To report instant message violations on AOL 9.0 SE and older versions of AOL software:
1. On the IM window, click Notify AOL.
2. Type your report in the text box, and then click Send Report.

Related Articles: