How to recognize spam "Payment Released" emails

What kind of email is "Payment Released"?

After examining this "Payment Released" email, we determined that it is spam. This message requests confirmation of the released payment. The spam email aims to lure recipients into visiting a phishing website targeting account log-in credentials.

"Payment Released" email scam overview

The spam email with the subject "FW: Payment Released May2025.xlsx" (may vary) requests the recipient to confirm the payment released to their account. It must be stressed that this claim is false, and the mail is not associated with any legitimate entities.

At the time of writing, the promoted website was down. However, this could be fixed in potential future releases of this spam campaign (i.e., emails will redirect to a functional webpage). Typically, mail of this kind endorses phishing sites disguised as email account sign-in pages or file-sharing portals requiring users to provide their email log-in credentials.

Phishing sites record entered information and send it to scammers. To expand upon how the stolen emails can be utilized, sensitive data therein could be used for a variety of nefarious purposes, and cyber criminals might also gain access to the content (e.g., platforms, services, etc.) registered through these accounts.

Scammers can steal account owners' identities (e.g., emails, social networking, social media, messengers, etc.) and request loans or donations from contacts/friends/followers, endorse scams, and proliferate malware by sharing malicious files or links. Hijacked finance-related accounts (e.g., e-commerce, digital wallets, money transferring, online banking, etc.) can be used to make fraudulent transactions and online purchases.

To summarize, by trusting an email like "Payment Released" – users can experience severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

If you have already provided your log-in credentials to a phishing site (or file) – change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and contact their official support without delay.

Phishing spam campaign examples

We have investigated thousands of spam campaigns; "Account Verification Alert", "Grant/Compensation Payment Program", and "DocuSign - Secure Document Received" are merely a few of our newest articles on phishing emails.

Primarily targeted data includes log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, and finance-related information. However, various scams are endorsed through spam mail.

It is also used to spread all kinds of malware. Due to how prevalent spam mail is and how well-made it can be – we strongly advise vigilance with incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malware is commonly proliferated through spam campaigns. These emails/messages include virulent files as attachments or download links. Malicious files can be documents (PDF, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, etc.), archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), JavaScript, and so on.

Malware download/installation is triggered once such a file is opened. Some formats may need additional interaction to initiate infection processes. For example, Microsoft Office files require users to enable macro commands (i.e., editing/content), while OneNote documents need them to click embedded links or files.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Incoming communications must be approached with caution. Attachments or links found in suspicious emails/messages must not be opened, as they can be harmful or infectious.

It must be mentioned that malware is spread using various methods. Therefore, we recommend being careful while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears genuine and harmless.

Furthermore, all downloads must be performed from official and trustworthy sources. We advise activating and updating programs using functions/tools provided by legitimate developers, as illegal software activation ("cracking") tools and third-party updates can contain malware.

It is paramount for device integrity and user safety to have a dependable antivirus installed and kept updated. Security programs must be used to run regular system scans and to remove 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 "Payment Released" spam email letter:

Subject: FW: Payment Released May2025.xlsx

Greeting ********,

Comfirm your payment which have been Released to your account May 2025.xlsx"

Payment Released May 2025.xlsx
Last modified: 5/9/2025 2:48:32 a.m.

Open in Excel
Download Document

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Quick menu:

• What is "Payment Released" phishing 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?

Regardless of any relevant information that they may include, spam emails are not personal. Cyber criminals send out these messages in massive campaigns – therefore, thousands of users receive identical (or incredibly similar) emails.

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

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you have disclosed other private information (e.g., ID card details, passport scans/photos, credit/debit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the appropriate authorities.

I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, reading an email does not pose an infection threat. Devices are compromised when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?

If the opened file was an executable (.exe, .run, etc.) – most likely, yes – since these formats cause infections almost without fail. However, others – like documents (.doc, .xls, .pdf, .one, etc.) – may need extra interaction. In such instances, malware infiltration is jumpstarted after macros are enabled, embedded files/links are clicked, or other actions are performed.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove practically all known malware infections. Remember that performing a full system scan is paramount since high-end malicious software typically hides deep within system.