Watch Out for Yahoo Customer Service Scam Targeting Users

Any phone number you find online purporting to connect you with “Yahoo Customer Care” is fake

In mid-2025, a surge of sophisticated scams has targeted Yahoo Mail and Yahoo account holders nationwide, including students and small business owners in North Carolina. Fraudsters impersonate “Yahoo Customer Care” via phone calls, text messages and phishing emails, demanding payment to fix account issues or reset passwords. These impostors lure victims with urgency and fear, threatening account suspension or data deletion—before charging hundreds of dollars via gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Understanding how the scam works and knowing Yahoo’s official support channels are essential to protecting your personal information, your devices and your finances.

Why scammers impersonate Yahoo

Yahoo is one of the world’s largest email and web services providers, with over 200 million active accounts. Scammers exploit Yahoo’s broad user base and the common fear of locked or hacked accounts to pressure victims into paying bogus “support fees.” By claiming to represent Yahoo, they tap into users’ trust and the urgency of resolving account problems quickly. In many cases, victims report hearing deepfake or AI-generated voices reading scripted prompts that mimic legitimate support agents, making it hard to distinguish real from fake.

Common scam tactics in 2025

• Unsolicited phone calls: You receive a call from a “Yahoo Customer Care Agent” warning that your account has been flagged for suspicious activity. The caller ID may display “Yahoo Inc.” or “800-YAHOO-99,” but deeper inspection shows it comes from an unknown international number.
• Text message phishing (“smishing”): A text informs you that your Yahoo account will be suspended within 24 hours unless you verify your identity by clicking a link. The link leads to a cloned Yahoo login page that steals your email address and password.
• Email phishing: Fraudsters send messages with official-looking Yahoo logos and domain names such as “@yahoo-support.com” instead of “@yahoo.com.” The email claims your mailbox is full or compromised and urges you to download an attachment or click a link to resolve it.
• Fake payment requests: After “verifying” your account, the scammer instructs you to purchase gift cards (iTunes, Google Play), send cryptocurrency or wire money to pay for “urgent maintenance,” “data recovery” or “premium security services.”
• Remote access software: Some scammers ask you to install legitimate remote-support tools like TeamViewer or AnyDesk so they can “fix” your computer. Instead, they install malware, steal files or install ransomware.

Red flags that you’re being scammed

• Unexpected contact: Yahoo does not make unsolicited phone calls, send text messages or email you out of the blue about account problems.
• Requests for payment: Yahoo Customer Care is always free, never pay for password resets, security checks or technical support.
• Threatening language: Scammers often invoke legal action, account deletion or data loss if you don’t comply immediately.
• Non-Yahoo payment methods: Gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers are never required or accepted by Yahoo.
• Poor grammar and typos: Official Yahoo communications are professionally edited and free of spelling or grammar errors.
• Suspicious sender domains: Hover over email links without clicking to verify they point to “yahoo.com.” Anything else is fraudulent.

Yahoo’s official support channels

True Yahoo Customer Care help is always free and available through these channels:

• Yahoo Help Center: Visit help.yahoo.com and select “Mail” or the product you need help with.
• Yahoo Account Security page: For password resets and two-step verification: login.yahoo.com/forgot.
• In-app support: If you use the Yahoo Mail or Yahoo app, tap your profile icon, then “Help & feedback” to view FAQs and troubleshooting guides.
• Social media: @YahooCare on X (formerly Twitter) provides updates on outages and general guidance, never share personal data publicly.
• Community forums: The Yahoo Help Community at forums.yahoo.net allows you to post questions to verified Yahoo moderators and experienced users.

What to do if you’ve been targeted

1. Hang up or delete immediately. Do not engage with the caller, text or email. Do not click links or download attachments.
2. Change your Yahoo password. Use the official reset page at login.yahoo.com/forgot. Enable two-step verification for added security.
3. Scan for malware. Run a full system scan with reputable antivirus and anti-malware tools. Update your operating system and apps to close security holes.
4. Report the scam to Yahoo. Forward phishing emails to abuse@yahoo.com and report phone scams at help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN6349.html.
5. Notify your financial institution. If you provided payment details or purchased gift cards, contact your bank or card issuer immediately to reverse charges and close compromised accounts.
6. Report to federal authorities. File complaints with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
7. Inform local law enforcement. If you suffered financial loss or identity theft, file a report with your campus or county police department.

Additional protective measures

• Enable multi-factor authentication: Protect your email and other accounts with two-step verification apps or SMS codes.
• Use strong, unique passwords: Employ a password manager to generate and store complex passwords for every account.
• Keep software up to date: Apply operating system and application updates promptly to patch vulnerabilities.
• Educate family members: Share scam alerts with friends, roommates and coworkers, awareness is your best defense.

North Carolina resources

• NC Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Division: File complaints and get fraud-prevention advice at ncdoj.gov/consumers or call 1-919-716-6000.
• IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center): Report cybercrime nationwide at ic3.gov.
• Local campus police departments: Most North Carolina colleges maintain 24/7 hotlines for fraud and safety incidents.
• FTC Scam Alerts: Review current phishing and impersonation scams at ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
• State Treasurer’s Office: Identity theft resources and credit monitoring guidance at nctreasurer.com.

Yahoo Customer Care will never call, text or email you demanding payment, gift cards or cryptocurrency. By knowing the warning signs, using official channels and reporting suspicious activity immediately, North Carolinians can shield themselves from these evolving scams and keep their accounts, and their personal data—secure.