How to recognize scams like You have received an encrypted message?

What is You have received an encrypted message email scam?

It is a phishing email claiming that recipients have received an encrypted message and can open it via the attached file. The purpose of this email is to trick recipients into opening an HTML file designed to open a fake Microsoft page and entering their account login credentials on it.

You have received an encrypted message phishing email in detail

This email is disguised as a letter regarding a proof of payment document. It encourages recipients to open the attached file and then log into a Microsoft account to review that document. Simply said, scammers behind this email attempt to steal Microsoft account login credentials (email, phone, or Skype username and password) via a fake Microsoft page.

Stolen Microsoft accounts could be used to spread this phishing email further, distribute malware, access personal files, or for other malicious purposes. Thus, this and similar emails must be ignored.

Threat Summary:

Name	You have received an encrypted message email scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	File attached to email will lead to a proof of payment document
Detection Names (Attachment)	Avast (Other:SNH-gen [Phish]), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.GenericKD.38158875), ESET-NOD32 (HTML/Phishing.Microsoft.IB), Ikarus (Phishing.HTML.Doc), Microsoft (Trojan:JS/Phish.SM!MTB), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Disguise	Letter regarding remittance advice
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.
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Phishing emails in general

Typically, phishing emails and websites ask to provide sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, or other details. Scammers disguise their emails as official letters from legitimate entities. More examples of similar emails are "ING Email Scam", "Volksbank Email Scam", "Purchase Contract Email Scam".

It is important to mention that emails can be used to deliver malware. Such emails contain links or attachments too.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Recipients infect computers through emails by opening malicious files (attachments or files downloaded from received links). Usually, cybercriminals send malicious MS Office or PDF documents, archive files, JavaScript files, executable files.

Not all files infect computers once they are opened. For example, malicious Microsoft documents cannot cause any harm until macros commands are enabled. However, MS Office versions released before 2010 do not have the "Protected View" mode. Thus, malicious documents opened with them do not need permission to infect computers.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Do not open files (attachments) and links in emails received from suspicious senders. Especially when such emails are irrelevant. Use only official websites and direct links to download files and programs. Update and activate installed software using tools/functions provided by its official developer.

Have reputable antivirus software installed on a computer and scan the system with it regularly. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the You have received an encrypted message email:

Subject: Remittance Advice for -

Encrypted Message for -

Hi

You have received an encrypted message from Accounts Payable
Content: Attached
Expire: 11/24/2021

Thanks!
Admin

This e-mail is intended only for the named addressee. If you have
received this message in error, please notify  Support and delete
the original message. Thank you.

Screenshot of the fake Microsoft page used to steal login credentials:

Another example of an email from "You Have Received An Encrypted Message" spam campaign:

Text presented within:

Subject: SWIFT

This is a secure, encrypted message

You've received an encrypted message

Attached is an effected Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for your acceptance.

The document is encrypted and securely attached to your email.

Download and Sign in using your email address -

Screenshot of the attached HTML document designed for phishing purposes:

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Quick menu:

• What is You Have Received An Encrypted Message spam?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

As a rule, phishing emails are not personal. All recipients receive the same email.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by this email, what should I do?

If you have opened the attachment and entered your account login credentials on the opened fake Microsoft page, change all passwords as soon as possible. In other cases, contact corresponding authorities.

I have read the email but did not open the link, is my personal information safe?

Yes, an email itself cannot cause any harm. When emails are malicious, users infect computers only if they open files downloaded via received links or attachments.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can eliminate almost all known malicious programs. It is recommended to scan the operating system using a full system. Otherwise, an antivirus engine might not detect sophisticated malware hiding deep in the system.

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