Do not trust fake "YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item" emails
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of email is "YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item"?
Our inspection of the "YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item" email revealed that it is spam. Likely targeting users with YouTube accounts, this scam is presented as a notification regarding a copyright-related document shared with the recipients by YouTube Support.
It is most probable that the shared file redirects to a phishing website aiming to obtain the account credentials of said video hosting/sharing platform.
It must be emphasized that this spam mail is in no way associated with the actual YouTube LLC.
"YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item" email scam overview
The scam email is presented as a message from YouTube Support. It states that a document titled "Copyright Warning.pdf" was shared with the recipient using Google Drive.
When we opened this file, it was disguised as a YouTube copyright infringement warning. The document reads that a complaint has been lodged that initiated a review process.
If the complaint is found to be accurate, the user risks having their videos removed and the channel getting a strike. If three strikes are received - the channel will be blocked without any possibility of appeal. Additionally, the file states that if the full report is not read, the user will be unable to make an appeal.
As mentioned in the introduction, the real YouTube video hosting/sharing platform is not associated with this spam campaign. However, due to how competently crafted this spam is, as well as YouTube's notoriety for its unsophisticated copyright striking system and harsh consequences - the scam is likely to alarm content creators and achieve some amount of success.
When we clicked the "Open Full Report" button presented in the PDF file, it redirected us to a website that was defunct. The site would have likely operated as a phishing scam targeting YouTube account log-in credentials under the guise of a verification process or something similar.
It is pertinent to mention that the scammers behind this campaign may replace the dead link - hence, the scam could resume operation in the future.
In summary, by trusting an email like "YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item" - users can have their online accounts stolen and experience severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.
If you have provided your log-in credentials to scammers - we advise changing the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and contacting their official support without delay. We also recommend using 2FA/MFA (two/multi-factor authentication) whenever possible for increased security.
| Name | YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item spam email |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Document titled "Copyright Warning.pdf" has been shared with the recipient by YоuTubе Support. |
| Disguise | YоuTubе Support |
| 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 Combo Cleaner. |
Phishing spam campaign examples
We have analyzed thousands of spam emails; "FIFTH THIRD BANK email scam", "Board Approved Payroll", "Incoming Failed Messages", and "Annual Salary Adjustment" are a few examples of our newest finds within the phishing category.
In addition to various scams, this mail is also used to distribute trojans, ransomware, and other malware. Spam letters use social engineering, scare tactics, and are often disguised as messages from legitimate companies, corporations, service providers, authorities, institutions, and other entities.
How do spam campaigns infect computers?
Spam emails can contain infectious files as attachments or download links. These files can be PDF and Microsoft Office documents, archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), JavaScript, and so forth.
Once a virulent file is executed, run, or otherwise opened - the malware download/installation process is initiated. For example, Microsoft Office documents infect systems by executing malicious macro commands.
How to avoid installation of malware?
We highly recommend caution with incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages. The attachments and links found in suspect/irrelevant mail must not be opened, as they can be malicious and cause infections. It is important to use post-2010 Microsoft Office versions since they have the "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic macro execution.
However, malware is not proliferated just via spam mail. Therefore, we also advise downloading from official/verified sources and activating/updating programs by using legitimate functions/tools (as illegal activation tools ["cracks"] and third-party updaters can contain malicious software).
Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fake and malicious content typically appears legitimate and harmless.
We must emphasize the importance of having a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. Security programs must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats and issues. 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 "YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item" scam email letter:
Subject: Item shared with you: "Copyright Warning.pdf"
YоuTubе Suppоrt shared an item
YоuTubе Suppоrt (maspatriarufino@gmail.com) has shared the following item:
Copyright Warning.pdf
This email grants access to this item without logging in. Only forward it to people you trust.
Open
If you don't want to receive files from this person, block the sender from Drive
Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
You have received this email because maspatriarufino@gmail.com shared a file or folder located in Google Drive with you.
Screenshot of the file distributed via "YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item" spam campaign ("Copyright Warning.pdf"):
Text presented in this file:
YouTube
Copyright infringement warning
Hello, -
Moderation will review these complaints in the near term, and if confirmed, your videos will be removed and your channel will get a strike.
Upon reaching 3 strikes, your channel will be blocked without the possibility of appeal.
Video Title: -
Link: -
Application: WMG
Possible causes:
Your video may contain copyrighted content.
Copyright holders can block YouTube videos that contain their content.
Read the full report in the document at the link below, if you do not read the report in this case you can not appeal the moderation decision.
[Open Full Report]
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner
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 Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.
Quick menu:
- What is YоuTubе Suppоrt Shared An Item spam email?
- 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?
Spam emails are not personal. Scammers distribute this mail in massive operations - therefore, thousands of users receive identical emails.
I have provided my personal information when tricked by this spam email, what should I do?
If you have disclosed account log-in credentials - immediately change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you've provided other private data (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) - contact relevant authorities without delay.
I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?
No, opening/reading an email will not initiate any system infection processes. Malware download/installation chains are triggered when the attachments or links found in spam mail are opened/clicked.
I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?
Whether your device was infected might depend on the opened file's format. When virulent executables (.exe, .run, etc.) are opened - they infect systems almost without fail. However, malicious document formats (.doc, .xls, .pdf, etc.) may need additional interaction (e.g., enabling macro commands) to start downloading/installing malware.
Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?
Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and eliminating nearly all known malware infections. It must be stressed that performing a complete system scan is essential - since high-end malicious programs usually hide deep within systems.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion