Urgent Gmail and Outlook warning as users are urged to ignore dangerous emails to prevent password hacking

GMAIL and Outlook users have been warned about a dangerous email to prevent their passwords from being hacked.

Security experts have also warned users of other messaging providers to be on their guard as it is very easy to be fooled by the scammers.

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The latest trick, already delivered to people’s inboxes, is trying to lure the unwary with the temptation of a free £50 gift from grocery delivery service Just Eat.

Anyone who clicks the link in the message and thinks they’re getting a free meal could find their personal information, including email addresses, passwords, and even banking information, being shared with online criminals.

The scam is of particular concern as the message appears to have come from an official Just Eat account with the name Just@eat in the address field.

Scammers have also added a countdown timer that can trick those who receive the message into taking advantage of the apparent offer without considering the possibility that it’s fake.

The latest scam was discovered by the team at ProPrivacy, although it’s not the first time such a scam has surfaced.

Last year, email users were targeted with a similar Just Eat scam that offered a similar inducement.

Ray Walsh, digital privacy expert at ProPrivacy, said: “It’s important consumers across the UK are made aware of a fake £50 Just Eat voucher being used by scammers to lure victims.

“The current Just Eat scam uses a countdown timer to put further pressure on victims and encourage them to follow the shady link and provide their personal information.

“There is evidence circulating that scammers are using the just@eat email address to lure victims, so it’s worth checking the email you receive for that sender’s address, or anything else that just eat is creatively using, to convey authenticity.”

Anyone who receives the email containing the fake £50 Just Eat voucher is warned not to click on the link as this could result in malware infection or theft of your data.

In a post on its website, Just Eat added: “Phone calls, emails, texts or WhatsApp messages claiming to be from Just Eat or our trusted partners could be an attempt to obtain personal, sensitive or financial information from you – such as usernames, passwords, credit card details and other information.

“Just Eat will never ask for your date of birth, bank information, address, or for proof of identity such as utility bills or your Partner Center username and password over the phone.

“The only time you’ll ever need to provide this information is when you first sign up for Just Eat.”

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