Essential Phone buyers being targeted by phishing scam

Essential, which recently started shipping its Essential Phone, is in the midst of an apparent phishing scam.

Several people have taken to social media to voice their concern that they’ve been targeted by a phishing scam via email. The first post on Reddit was published by user “Cygnosity,” and they copied the text of the email to the forum. It reads like plenty of other personal identification-seeking scams, requesting that the recipient not only send over their phone number and an alternate email address, but also a photo I.D. where the address and other discerning information is clearly legible.

Here’s the email:

“Hi,
Our order review team requires additional verifying information to complete the processing of your recent order. 
This verification is performed to protect against unauthorized use of your payment information and similar to what is conducted for in-person purchases. 
Please provide an alternative email and phone number to confirm this purchase..
We would like to request a picture of a photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, state ID, passport) clearly showing your photo, signature and address. NOTE: the address on the ID should match the billing address listed on your recent order.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.  Once verified, we look forward to shipping your order.
Thanks!
Essential Products Customer Care”

The email was sent from “customercare@essential.com,” so it certainly looks like a credible request. However, Essential has taken to Twitter and posted that the company is looking into the email and that they are taking “steps to mitigate.” What that actually means at the moment, though, remains unknown.

We’re aware of & looking into a recent e-mail received by some customers. We’ve taken steps to mitigate & will update with more info soon.

— Essential (@essential) August 30, 2017