Would you count this as phishing?

Yes, I would absolutely classify this email as phishing.

Here's why, based on the key characteristics of phishing attempts:

Key Red Flags Indicating Phishing

• Spoofed Sender Address: The email claims to be from "InteractiveBrokers" but the actual sender address is [email protected]. This is a dead giveaway. Legitimate emails from Interactive Brokers would come from their official domain (e.g., interactivebrokers.com or a closely related official sub-domain), not a random domain like ggqox.com.

• Urgency and Threat of Account Issues: The subject line "Prevent Account Issues: Update Tax Information" and the body text stating "Important: We require confirmation of your regulatory details to comply with the latest reporting standards. Kindly confirm now to prevent any penalties" are classic phishing tactics. Scammers use a sense of urgency and fear of negative consequences (like "penalties" or account restrictions) to pressure recipients into acting without thinking.

• Generic Greeting: "Dear Valued User" is used instead of your specific name. While some legitimate mass emails might use generic greetings, in conjunction with other red flags, it adds to the suspicion. A financial institution would typically address you by name.

• Suspicious Link: The most critical indicator is the link provided: https://interiakastliveretsbrokers.com?token=IruU5tpVeHbq0OwdGmRe.

  • Notice the subtle misspelling: "interiakastbrokers.com" instead of "interactivebrokers.com". This is a common tactic called typosquatting or URL hijacking, where attackers register domains similar to legitimate ones, hoping users won't notice the difference.
  • This URL is not Interactive Brokers' official website. Clicking this link would undoubtedly lead you to a fake login page designed to steal your credentials or other sensitive information.

• Request for Sensitive Information via Link: Legitimate financial institutions will never ask you to click a link in an email to update sensitive personal or tax information. They will always instruct you to log directly into your account through their official website or app.

What the Attacker Wants

The goal of this phishing email is to trick you into clicking the fake "Verify Tax Details" link. Once you click, you'd likely be taken to a malicious website that looks exactly like the real Interactive Brokers login page. Any information you enter there (username, password, potentially even tax ID numbers or other personal details) would be stolen by the attackers, giving them unauthorized access to your financial account.

How to Protect Yourself

• Always check the sender's actual email address, not just the display name.
• Hover over links before clicking them (on a desktop computer) to see the true destination URL. If it doesn't match the company's official website, it's likely a scam. On mobile, you might long-press the link to reveal the URL.
• Never click links in suspicious emails.
• If you're unsure about an email, go directly to the company's official website by typing their known URL into your browser (do not use links from the email) and log in from there to check for any messages or alerts.
• Contact the company directly using an official phone number or email address found on their official website (not in the suspicious email) if you have any concerns.

This is another phishing email, masquerading as a legitimate message from Interactive Brokers. While the HTML is elaborate and attempts to replicate a branded newsletter, there are numerous red flags - and the malicious intent is clear.

Here's a forensic breakdown for educational or advisory use:

Scam Breakdown: "Prevent Account Issues - Update Tax Information"

Sender Info

• Claimed Sender: Interactive Brokers
• Actual Sender: [email protected] - This is not an Interactive Brokers domain. It's random and clearly fraudulent.

Red Flags

1. Fake Domain in the Button Link:

   https://interiakastliveretsbrokers.com?token=IruU5tpVeHbq0OwdGmRe
   

   This is not interactivebrokers.com. It's a typo-squat ("interiakastliveretsbrokers.com") made to fool you visually. An obvious scam domain created to harvest credentials.

2. Urgent, Vague Language:

   "Important: We require confirmation of your regulatory details..." This uses fear tactics with minimal detail - a hallmark of phishing psychology.

3. Branding Without Authentication:

   • While it uses the Interactive Brokers logo, there's no digital signature or sender verification (like SPF/DKIM/DMARC headers).
   • The email mimics a real newsletter template but relies entirely on HTML and remote assets for false legitimacy.

4. "Dear Valued User":

   • Generic greetings like this are a dead giveaway. Real firms address you by name.

5. Suspicious URL:

   • Always hover over the link. The destination URL never lies, even if the text says something benign like "Verify Tax Details."

What To Do

Public Awareness Blurb (For YouTube/Blog/Newsletter)

New Scam Alert - Fake Tax Verification Email from "Interactive Brokers"

A highly convincing phishing email is circulating, pretending to be from Interactive Brokers and urging users to "update tax details." It contains a fake button linking to a fraudulent domain designed to steal login credentials.

Do NOT click anything. Always verify messages by logging into your account directly, not through links in emails.

Remember: Your broker will never ask you to verify tax info through a link in a random email.

Would you like a mockup infographic or training slide deck based on this phishing sample? I can also auto-generate a safe "phishing test" version to help users learn without risk.

This HTML code provides a textbook example of a phishing attempt targeting financial account holders. Stay vigilant!