How to spot scams like "Purchase Order Request" fake email

What is the fake "Purchase Order Request" email?

We have inspected the email and determined that it is a phishing email disguised as a purchase order request. The scammers behind it aim to trick unsuspecting recipients into clicking the provided link and disclosing personal information on the fake website that opens. This scam email should be ignored if received.

More about the "Purchase Order Request" scam email

The email is a fraudulent purchase order request that instructs the recipient to review a document supposedly containing item details and generate an official purchase order. The message includes a link to download a PDF and asks for confirmation of receipt and a timeline for issuing the order.

The link provided in this email ("Download Purchaseorder_request.pdf") leads recipients to a fake login page. The site is capable of imitating the recipient's email provider login page. For example, if the recipient uses Gmail, it may display a fake page that resembles the official Gmail sign-in screen.

It is designed to steal email account login credentials (email addresses and passwords) that can be used to hijack accounts. Once access is gained, scammers can use stolen accounts to distribute malware (send malicious files or links), send scam emails, harvest sensitive information, or engage in other malicious activities.

Moreover, scammers may try to access other accounts (e.g., social media, banking, and gaming) using the stolen login details. Thus, falling for this scam can result in various issues, including identity theft, reputational damage, and financial loss.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this email is a phishing scam designed to steal login credentials by directing recipients to a fake login page. Falling for it can lead to account takeover, identity theft, and other financial or personal security risks. This scam should be ignored to avoidd the associated risks.

Sometimes, emails like this can be used to deliver malicious software. Some examples of scam emails targeting sensitive information are "Change To The Webmail Access Interface Scam", "Authenticate Your Email Address Scam", and "Email Address Will Be Deactivated As A Security Measure Email Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals often use email to spread malware. Their messages typically include infected attachments, such as documents (e.g., MS Office or PDF files), executable files, compressed archives, ISO files, or scripts, which can compromise a device when opened or when features like macros are enabled.

These emails may also contain links to unsafe or compromised websites that try to download malware automatically or persuade users to download it manually. In most cases, a device is only infected if the recipient interacts with the malicious attachment or link.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Exercise caution when receiving irrelevant, unsolicited emails or messages from unknown senders, especially those containing links or attachments. If a message appears suspicious, do not open its contents. Always use official websites and trusted app stores for downloading software or files, and steer clear of pirated programs, cracks, or keygens.

Avoid interacting with ads or pop-ups on questionable websites, and refuse any requests to enable notifications from such sites. Also, keep the operating system and applications up to date and run regular scans with reliable security tools.

Text presented in the "Purchase Order Request" email letter:

Subject: Purchase Order Request

PURCHASE ORDER REQUEST

Dear ********,

This message serves as a formal request for the processing and issuance of a Purchase Order (PO) for the required items listed in our procurement specification. Kindly review the details and proceed with generating the official Purchase Order accordingly.

For full item descriptions, quantities, specifications, and supporting documents, please refer to the link below:

Download Purchaseorder_request.pdf

Please confirm receipt of this request and advise on the expected timeline for issuing the PO.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Note: Purchse order is secured. You will be redirected to re-login please use your email password.

Sincerely,
MIKALILE
Sales Manager
sales@mikalile.com

Fake website used in this scam:

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Quick menu:

• What is Purchase Order Request 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?

Phishing emails are typically sent to a large number of recipients. Scammers collect email addresses from sources like leaked databases, fraudulent sign-up forms, or other means, and then send their deceptive messages to as many addresses as possible.

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

If login information is compromised, all potentially affected accounts should have their passwords changed immediately. For accounts that cannot be accessed, contacting the service's support team is recommended.

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

The risk of malware infection depends on the type of file. Executable files, such as .exe, can run malware as soon as they are opened, while document files are usually safer unless macros are enabled, which can provide a way for malware to infiltrate the system.

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

Simply opening or reading an email is safe. A device is only at risk if the user clicks on malicious links or opens dangerous attachments.

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

Combo Cleaner can identify and remove most malware, but running a full system scan is recommended to ensure that any hidden or sophisticated threats are completely eliminated.