Unfortunately, scammers out there are targeting individuals and claiming to be from Online Optimism. We’ve proactively communicated with our clients, but their attacks have begun to extend beyond those we currently work with.
We’ve created this page in hopes that if someone searches some of the information in the email, they will find this information and protect themselves.
The main message: All emails from our team at Online Optimism will be sent from an email address ending in @onlineoptimism.com.
What should I do if I receive one of these emails?
- Please forward it to [email protected]. (We’ll also report them, and we’re collecting them to better systematically approach this issue.)
- Report any phishing messages you receive to Google using your email provider’s report spam feature and/or this form. We’ve spoken with their support team, this is the best way for these accounts to be investigated and potentially deactivated.
What should I do if I’ve paid the scammers?
- Call the customer support of your payment method to inform them of the payment and see if they can cancel it.
- Report the scam to the FTC via this form.
- Report the crime to the FBI’s IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) via this form.
Information from the Most Common Phishing Emails
Example Emails
Below are a few of the emails people have received. We’re only sharing the initial email sent since further parts of the scam depend on how you initially respond.
Example Email #1
Hi there,
I hope you’re doing well.We wanted to share an important update we recently received from WordPress Support following their internal review. They’ve confirmed that your website is currently not fully aligned with the latest WordPress platform requirements, and several core components — including your domain and connected extensions/plugins — now require immediate renewal and updating.
Failure to address these renewals promptly could result in your website being flagged for non-compliance with current platform standards. In more serious cases, this may lead to unexpected service interruptions, functionality issues, security vulnerabilities, or even temporary suspension of critical website services.
To protect your online presence and ensure your website remains secure, stable, and fully operational, it’s very important that we resolve these updates as soon as possible.
Since we manage your website, we wanted to notify you immediately so we can take care of everything before any disruptions occur. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience so we can proceed with the necessary renewals and updates right away.
Example Email #2
Hello,
I wanted to quickly follow up because some of the issues we’ve been finding during these audits are actually affecting website speed, stability, mobile performance, and SEO more seriously than most owners realize.
I believe it’s important for you to personally see if your website is being affected as well and review the findings for yourself.
The audit is completely free and purely informational.
If you’re ready to proceed, let me know and I’ll run the audit right away and send over the findings.
Flynn Zaiger
CEO, Online Optimism
[email protected]
www.onlineoptimism.com
157 Columbus Ave, 4th Floor, New York City, New York 10023, United States
Example Email #3
Hello,
This is Flynn Zaiger from Online Optimism. I hope you’re doing well. It’s been a pleasure working with you, and I truly value our collaboration in supporting your website’s continued growth.
I’m reaching out to inform you about an important compliance update currently being implemented across platforms such as Design rush and Duda. As platform partners, we are required to notify our clients about these updates, as they directly impact how websites are structured, secured, and maintained under the latest platform policies.
During a recent review of your website in relation to this compliance update, we identified several critical elements that are currently not aligned with the new standards. As a result, your site may be at risk of restrictions, limited functionality, or potential visibility issues if these matters are not addressed promptly.
This message is to ensure you’re fully informed and to help you take proactive steps to protect your website. I would be happy to explain what this compliance update means for your site and outline the necessary actions to keep it secure and fully compliant.
I look forward to continuing our work together.
Best regard,
Flynn Zaiger | Online Optimism
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