Do not open a link in the Mail - Quarantined phishing email
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
Mail - Quarantined email scam removal guide
What is Mail - Quarantined email scam?
Scammers behind this phishing email attempt to trick recipients into opening a deceptive website and providing their email account login credentials on it. It is worthwhile to mention that emails of this type can be used to deceive recipients into providing other sensitive details as well, for example, their bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card details, etc.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, the main purpose of this phishing email is to deceive recipients into entering their email account credentials on a deceptive website. It claims that recipients supposedly have some pending emails that cannot be delivered to them unless they "release" those emails by clicking the "Release and add to safelist" link next to the email address of each sender. If clicked, all of those links open the same website where recipients are asked to enter their email account login credentials.
It is important to known that stolen accounts could be misused to send malspam emails, deceive other people into transferring money to cyber criminals, spread the same or some other phishing email further, steal identities, and other sensitive information (e.g., credit card details, bank account numbers) and so on. Moreover, stolen accounts or other information could be sold to other cyber criminals as well. Therefore, phishing emails or other emails of this kind should never be trusted.
| Name | Mail - Quarantined Email Scam |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | A certain number of emails cannot be delivered |
| Disguise | Letter from email service provider |
| Symptoms | Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of the computer. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains. |
| Damage | Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Malwarebytes. |
A couple of examples of other phishing emails are "E-Mail Clustered Email Scam", "Message Attachments Were Delayed Email Scam" and "Deactivating All Inactive Accounts Email Scam". Although, cyber criminals can use emails not trick recipients not only into providing sensitive information but also into installing some malware (cryptocurrency miners, Trojans, ransomware-type programs, etc.) on their computers.
How do spam campaigns infect computers?
Recipients install malware via malspam when they download they execute some malicious file. Usually, that file is attached to the email or it can be downloaded via website link that is included in the email. Some examples of files that can be used to distribute malware via malspam emails are malicious PDF, Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript files, executable files (like .exe), or archive files (like ZIP, RAR). It is worthwhile to mention that malicious documents that are opened with MS Office cannot install malware if user do not enable macros commands (editing/content) in them. However, it does not apply to documents that recipients open with MS Office versions older than MS Office 2010 - those versions do not include "Protected View" mode.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Files and programs should be downloaded only from official pages and via direct download links. Installed software has to be updated and activated with tools that are designed/provided by its official developers. Unofficial tools should be used for that, moreover, it is not legal to activate licensed software with such tools, neither it is legal to use installers for pirated software. Links and attachments in irrelevant emails that are received from unknown, suspicious addresses should not be opened as well. Computers should be scanned for malware and other threats regularly, it should be done by using a reputable antivirus or anti-spyware. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.
Text presented in the Mail - Quarantined phishing email:
End User Digest: 3 New Held Messages
For ********
Total 3 Held Messages (Summary Digest):
All email messages in your personal Quarantine.Messages will be deleted at the latest after 5 days. To deliver an email to your inbox, click on Release.
The emails listed in this section have been placed in your personal Quarantine. Click Release to deliver the email to your inbox. To continue to receive future emails from the sender, click Allow Sender. To report messages that are not spam but are included in the Spam - Quarantined section, click Not Spam.
Mail - Quarantined
Score From Subject Date Action
100 dave.maher@lmco.com UCP - PO A4643 12/09/20 Release and add to safelist
100 safak@kadirdemirltd.com Re: Please respond to me 12/09/20 Release and add to safelist
100 durgesh.upadhyaya@in.panasonic.com Re:Fwd:2020/ESD - Stock Price request. 12/09/20 Release and add to safelist
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Screenshot of a deceptive website that scammers use to trick recipients into providing their credentials:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Malwarebytes
By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.
Quick menu:
- What is Mail - Quarantined email scam?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of possible malware infections.
- STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.
How to remove malware manually?
Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically. To remove this malware we recommend using Malwarebytes for Windows. If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:
If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:
Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:
Restart your computer into Safe Mode:
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button. In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.
In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.
Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.
You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".
After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.
Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs. These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.
To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Malwarebytes for Windows.
Outstanding!
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