A phishing scam targeting Snapchat users may have left the credentials for nearly 56,000 accounts exposed online.

The attack used compromised accounts to send out a malicious link, which would direct users to a website mimicking the Snapchat login screen, according to The Verge.

After unsuspecting users entered their information, the credentials were added to a publicly available list.

Following the attack, Snapchat notified the affected users and reset many of the accounts – but, it remains unclear how long the information remained public.

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A phishing scam targeting Snapchat users may have left the credentials for nearly 56,000 accounts exposed online. The attack used compromised accounts to send out a malicious link, which would direct users to a website mimicking the Snapchat login screen. File photo

According to a new report from The Verge, the attack was carried out in July using a phishing website named klkviral.org.

It’s thought this may be linked to another phishing incident originating from the Dominican Republic.

As a result of the scam, the usernames and passwords for 55,851 Snapchat accounts were listed on a publicly available site.

The site was blocked as of July 24, and those affected by the attack were notified that their passwords had been reset, according to The Verge.

Snapchat has taken numerous steps in effort to prevent its users from being tricked by phishing scams, and even uses machine learning to detect and block suspicious URLs.

But, these well-disguised attacks sometimes still manage to get users to offer up their information.

‘We are very sorry when anyone is tricked by phishing,’ a Snapchat spokesperson told Dailymail.com.

‘While we can’t prevent people from sharing their Snapchat credentials with third parties, we do have advanced defenses to detect and prevent suspicious activity.

‘We encourage Snapchatters to always use strong passwords, enable Login Verification, and never use third-party apps or plugins.’

Snapchat has taken numerous steps in effort to prevent its users from being tricked by phishing scams. Any attempts to visit known malicious sites, including klkviral.org, will prompt a warning message

HOW DOES SNAPCHAT PROTECT USERS FROM PHISHING SCAMS? Snapchat is taking several steps to help prevent users from being tricked by phishing scams. The firm urges users to enable two-factor authentication to provide additional security to their accounts, and to avoid using third-party apps or plugins. And, strong passwords are a must. In addition, Snapchat – working with Google and other top tech names – keeps a blacklist of known malicious sites so they can be flagged and blocked. If you attempt to share or visit a suspicious site, a warning message will pop up before you can access the page. The firm also uses machine learning to detect and block suspicious URLs. If your account is compromised and Snapchat is aware of the issue, it will reset your password and alert you via email. Advertisement

Snapchat, working with Google and other top tech companies, keeps a record of blacklisted sites.

Any attempts to visit known malicious sites, including klkviral.org, will prompt a warning message:

‘The website you’re trying to visit has been reported as dangerous,’ the warning reads.

‘It may be designed to trick you into disclosing personal information or may contain malware that could infect your device.

‘If you understand the risks, you may proceed to this site.’