I got an email claiming my video received a copyright strike and I need to log in to appeal — is this a phishing attempt?
It's very likely phishing. Copyright strike emails are one of the most common creator-targeted phishing themes because the threat of a channel being taken down creates panic that leads people to click without checking the sender carefully.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Explanation
Scammers send emails formatted to closely resemble genuine copyright notices, complete with matching logos and similar wording to real strike notifications, and include a link to 'view the claim' or 'submit an appeal.' The link leads to a fake login page designed to steal the creator's account credentials, which are then used to hijack the channel, often to rebrand it for a cryptocurrency scam livestream or to sell it on to other bad actors.
The panic induced by a threatened channel suspension is central to why this scam works so well — creators who've built an audience over years understandably want to resolve any strike quickly, and the fear of losing everything overrides normal caution about checking a login page's web address. Once credentials are entered on the fake page, the attacker can often bypass two-factor authentication too if the phishing page is sophisticated enough to relay the session in real time.
Genuine copyright strike notifications appear directly within the platform's own dashboard when you log in normally, not solely through an email link. Checking your account status by navigating to the platform directly, rather than clicking the email's link, is the safest way to confirm whether a strike is real.
Common red flags
- Email link leads to a login page with a web address that doesn't exactly match the platform's official domain
- Urgent language warning of channel termination within a short timeframe
- Sender's email address doesn't match the platform's known official domains
- Request to 'verify' your account by entering your password on an external page
- Formatting looks close to genuine notices but has small inconsistencies in wording or logos
- Strike doesn't appear when you log into the platform's dashboard directly
What to do now
- Don't click the email link — log into the platform directly through its official app or website
- Check your dashboard for any real copyright strikes or notices
- If you already entered your password on a suspicious page, change it immediately and enable two-factor authentication
- Review your account's recent login activity and connected devices for anything unfamiliar
- Report the phishing email to the platform's official support or trust and safety team
- Warn other creators in relevant communities if you spot a new phishing wave
Frequently asked questions
Can two-factor authentication fully protect me from this scam?
It significantly reduces risk, but sophisticated phishing pages can sometimes relay a real-time login session and capture a one-time code too, so avoiding the fake page entirely is still the best defense.
What should I do if my channel was already taken over through this scam?
Use the platform's official account recovery process immediately, report the hijacking through their support channels, and warn your audience through any other communication channel you still control.