How to spot fake emails like "Secure Document Shared"

What is "Secure Document Shared" scam?

We have analysed the email and found that it poses as a message regarding an annual performance review. It is a phishing email that contains a link to a deceptive page designed to steal information from unsuspecting recipients. Falling for this scam can result in account takeover and other issues.

More about the "Secure Document Shared" scam email

This phishing attempt is disguised as a notification about an annual performance review and a salary increase. It claims to share a secure, encrypted Excel document titled "Last Quater Financial_Report and Salary increase_Encrypted .Excel" and suggests that a password has been sent separately to access it.

The message is designed to entice the recipient to open the attached file, an HTML file that presents a fake document and requests a sign-in to review it. The site claims that the file can only be accessed by an authorised recipient's email. It instructs users to "sign in" using their email addresses and passwords to view the "document".

In reality, there is no document, and this is a fraudulent scheme designed to steal email account login credentials. If this information is disclosed, scammers can use it to access email and possibly other accounts. Hijacked email accounts can be misused to steal personal details, send scam emails, deliver malware, and for other malicious purposes.

Other accounts (e.g., social media, gaming, or banking) may also be accessed and used to steal money, identities, or make fraudulent purchases or transactions. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution when encountering emails like this one and refrain from interacting with them. Falling for such scams can lead to various problems.

Conclusion

The email is a phishing scam designed to steal login credentials through a fake document. Any information entered is sent to scammers, who can misuse it to access email and other accounts, steal identities, or commit fraud. Recipients should avoid interacting with such messages to protect their accounts and personal information.

Sometimes, falling for such scams can lead to malware infiltration. Here are examples of other scam emails: "Booking.com - Reservation Messages Email Scam", "Security Update Required Email Scam", and "My Benefits - Your Claim Statement Is Ready Email Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Email is a common tool used by cybercriminals to distribute malware. Malicious files, including infected documents, executables, compressed archives, or scripts, attached to such emails, can compromise a device if opened or if features like macros are enabled.

Fraudulent emails may also include links to malicious websites that can automatically download malware or deceive users into downloading it. Typically, a device is infected only when the recipient interacts with these attachments or links.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Exercise caution with emails or messages from unknown senders, particularly those containing attachments or links. If a message seems suspicious or unexpected, do not open any files or click any links. Only download apps from official sources, and steer clear of pirated programs, cracking tools, or key generators.

Avoid clicking on ads or pop-ups from suspicious websites, and refrain from accepting notifications from such websites. Keep devices secure by running regular scans with trusted security software and keeping the operating system and all applications up to date.

Text presented in the "Secure Document Shared" email letter:

Subject: ******** Sent your annual perfomance review and Increase in Salary

Secure Document Shared

You have received an encrypted Excel document titled:

"Last Quater Financial_Report and Salary increase_Encrypted .Excel"

This file is encrypted. If a password is required, it has been sent separately for security purposes.

Fake form presented in the attached file:

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:

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.

Quick menu:

• What is Secure Document Shared phishing scam?
• 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?

Most phishing emails are sent to a number of addresses rather to specific individuals. Cybercriminals often gather email addresses from data leaks, fake websites, or other sources. In general, these messages are generic and not tailored to the recipient.

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

If login credentials are compromised, immediately change the passwords on all impacted accounts to prevent potential risks. Notify banks or other relevant institutions if any personal or financial information might have been exposed.

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

The likelihood of malware infection depends on the type of file. Executable files, such as .exe, can immediately compromise a system when opened, while document files are usually safer unless users enable macros and execute malware.

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

Opening and viewing an email is safe. A device only becomes vulnerable when the recipient interacts with malicious content (lnks or files).

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

Combo Cleaner can find and remove most malware, but a complete scan is recommended to eliminate any hidden threats.