How to identify fake "DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice" emails

What kind of email is "DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice"?

After inspecting this "DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice" email, we determined that it is fake. It is presented as a notification from DHL informing the recipient about shipping documents sent to them. The attachment is a phishing file that targets email account log-in credentials (passwords).

"DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice" email scam overview

The spam email with the subject "DHL - Shipment Document // Arrival Notice - AWB# 13700658****" (may vary) informs the recipient that the attached file is a "shipping container document invoice". It was sent as they are the shipment's consignee/receiver.

It must be emphasized that the information in this email is false, and this mail is not associated with DHL or any other legitimate service providers or entities.

The attachment is a phishing file titled "DHL-Shipping document.html" (may vary). This document resumes the DHL-themed lure established in the scam message; it claims to be encrypted and needs email authentication to be viewed. Data provided into a phishing file or website is recorded and sent to scammers.

Hence, by entering their log-in credentials into this document – users unintentionally expose their email accounts. Emails tend to contain incredibly sensitive information, and scammers may even attempt to steal the linked accounts, platforms, and services.

To expand upon the potential abuse of hijacked accounts (e.g., emails, social networking/media, messengers, chats, etc.) – scammers can steal the owner's identity and ask for loans/donations from contacts/friends/followers, endorse scams, and spread malware by sharing malicious files or links.

Stolen finance-related accounts (e.g., e-commerce, money transferring, online banking, digital wallets, etc.) can be used to make unauthorized transactions or online purchases.

To summarize, victims of scam mail like "DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice" can experience severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

If you have disclosed your log-in credentials to a phishing file/site – change the passwords of all possibly compromised accounts and contact their official support without delay.

Phishing spam campaign examples

We have examined countless spam emails; "WordPress Contact Email Verification", "Changes To Terms Of Service And Privacy Policy", "Big Lotto", and "Google Anniversary Award" are just a few of our newest articles on phishing campaigns.

In addition to log-in credentials, personally identifiable information, and finance-related data. Various scams are promoted through spam mail, and it is used to proliferate malware.

While the commonly held belief that these emails are poorly written and riddled with mistakes is not untrue, that is not always the case. This mail can be competently put together and even convincingly disguised as messages from legitimate entities. Due to how widespread spam mail is and how well-made it can be – we strongly recommend caution with incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam campaigns spread malware by distributing malicious files; they can be attached to or linked inside the emails/messages. These files come in various formats, e.g., documents (Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), JavaScript, and so on.

Once such a file is opened – the infection chain is initiated. However, some formats require additional actions to begin downloading/installing malware. For example, Microsoft Office files need users to enable macro commands (i.e., editing/content), while OneNote documents require them to click on embedded links or files.

How to avoid installation of malware?

We strongly advise vigilance with incoming emails and other messages. Attachments or links found in dubious/irrelevant mail must not be opened, as they can be virulent.

However, malware is proliferated using various methods. Therefore, we recommend caution when browsing since the Internet is full of deceptive and malicious content.

Another recommendation is to download only from official and verified channels. Software must be activated and updated using functions/tools provided by genuine developers, as illegal activation tools ("cracks") and third-party updates can contain malware.

We must stress the importance of having a reputable antivirus installed and kept up-to-date. Security programs must be used to perform 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 "DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice" spam email letter:

Subject: DHL - Shipment Document // Arrival Notice - AWB# 13700658****

Dear Customer -,

Please find the attached shipping container document invoice for your reference. the shipping customer advised us to contact you as the consignee/receiver of the goods in transit.

Kindly check the attached file containing the shipping document/invoice & DHL receipt for tracking.

If you have any issues or questions, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service team for assistance.

Screenshot of the phishing file attached to this spam email ("DHL-Shipping document.html"):

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Quick menu:

• What is "DHL - Shipping Container Document Invoice" 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?

Spam emails are not personal, regardless of whether they contain details relevant to the recipients. Spam mail is distributed in mass-scale campaigns – hence, 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 possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support without delay. However, if you have disclosed information of a different personal nature (e.g., ID card details, passport photos/scans, credit/debit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the corresponding authorities.

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

Reading an email is harmless; systems are infected when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.

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

Whether the device was infected might depend on the format of the opened file. Executables cause infections almost without fail. However, some formats require more than just being opened. For example, document formats may need users to enable macro commands, click embedded content, or perform other actions to initiate malware infiltration processes.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan computers and eliminate all kinds of threats. It can detect and remove most of the known malware infections. Remember that performing a full system scan is essential since high-end malicious software usually hides deep within systems.