How to identify scams like "Excel Online Manager"

What kind of scam is the fake "Excel Online Manager" message?

We have inspected this email and determined that it contains a fake request for quotation (RFQ) and a link to a phishing website. The purpose of the email is to lure recipients into the deceptive site and steal personal information. If received, this email should be ignored and deleted.

More about the "Excel Online Manager" scam email

This deceptive email claims that the recipient has received a "secured business file" from Amanda McNight in the USA and instructs them to provide their email password to access it. It also mentions a file named "PO-#278354894.xls" and provides a receiver ID along with a timestamp.

The message states that a new order for November 2025 is being processed and requests a quote for the items listed in the attached file. The email urges the recipient to use correct email credentials to securely access the file through the "Get File" button. Clicking this button (link) opens a fake "Excel Online" website.

On this site, visitors are instructed to provide their email address and password to "view document". However, there is no document, and the entered information is sent directly to scammers. Fraudsters can try to use the stolen login credentials to access various accounts, such as social media, email, banking, gaming, etc.

Accessed accounts may be used to send scam emails or malware, make fraudulent purchases, or conduct transactions. Scammers can also harvest personal information (e.g., personal identification information or credit card details). Thus, it is important to examine emails before opening links or files or revealing personal information.

Similar scam emails in general

These scams often pose as delivery notices, bank alerts, invoices, job offers, or account security warnings to trick recipients into revealing login credentials or other personal information. Usually, they include links to phishing pages (e.g., fake login sites).

Sometimes, emails of this type can be designed to trick recipients into running malware on their devices. Here are more examples of similar scams: "Interactive Brokers Compliance Verification Notice", "American Express - Your Password Has Been Changed", and "Mismatch Between Purchase Order And Invoice".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals attach malicious executables, Office documents, PDF files, scripts, ZIP or RAR archives, and other file types to deliver malware. Opening these attachments or enabling features like macros can compromise the system.

Their emails can also include links to fake or compromised websites that either automatically deliver malware or trick users into downloading and running it. Typically, a system infection occurs only if the recipient interacts with attachments or links.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Update your operating system and software regularly, and scan your device using a reliable security tool to detect threats. Download software from official websites or trusted app stores. Avoid using other sources (e.g., unofficial pages, third-party downloaders, and P2P networks).

Do not open attachments or click links in emails or messages from unfamiliar senders, especially if they seem random or unexpected. Do not click on ads, links, buttons, or pop-ups when visiting shady sites, and do not allow suspicious websites to send notifications.

Text presented in the "Excel Online Manager" email letter:

Subject: RFQ: Items for November 2025 Order

Excel Online Manager

Dear: ********

You have received a secured Business File from Amanda McNight (USA)

Correct email password is mandatory for confirmation reference

Get File

Receiver's ID: ********
Timestamp: 10/15/2025 9:41:07 p.m.
File Name: PO-#278354894.xls
Size: 87kb

Sender's Message:
We are working on a New Order for Nov/2025.
Therefore, we would appreciate a quote from you on the items listed in the attached file. Thanks and best regards.

Note: Please ensure that you use your correct email credentials to securely access the file.

Phishing page used in this scam:

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Quick menu:

• What is Excel Online Manager 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?

Scammers typically send these emails to large numbers of people at once, using emails obtained through data breaches or similar sources. Their emails are usually generic and not targeted at any specific individual.

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

Update all passwords that may have been exposed. If any banking information or personal identification data has been compromised, notify your bank or the appropriate authorities.

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

Opening an executable file can immediately compromise a computer, while malicious documents typically require extra user actions, like enabling macros, before they can infect a system. The risk of infection depends on the type of file opened.

I have read the email but did not open the attachment, is my computer infected?

It is safe to open emails. A system becomes at risk only if the user clicks on a malicious link or opens a harmful attachment.

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

Combo Cleaner can remove most types of malware, but it is recommended to run a full system scan to detect any hidden or more advanced threats.