How to identify scams like "Failed System Update"

What is "Failed System Update" scam?

Our team has examined the email and found that it contains a fake notification regarding a failed system update. Its purpose is to steal personal information through the provided deceptive websites. Such scams are classified as phishing attempts. If received, this scam email should be ignored and deleted.

More about the "Failed System Update" scam email

This fake email poses as a notification from an email service provider. It claims that the recipient's email account has been temporarily blocked due to a failed system update and urges the recipient to take immediate action to restore access. The message aims to trick the recipient into clicking a "confirmation" link.

That link is intended to direct the recipient to a fraudulent website designed to steal their login credentials. It is important to note that the page used in this scam can replicate the appearance of the recipient's email service provider. It can mimic the design of Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Webmail, and other sites.

The goal is to steal email account login credentials. After gaining access to an email account, cybercriminals can look for confidential information, send phishing messages to other people, spread malware, or carry out other harmful activities. They may also attempt to log in to other services, such as social media, banking, or gaming accounts, using the stolen credentials.

If fraudsters can access other accounts, it can lead to identity theft, unauthorized transactions, or purchases, and other adverse outcomes. As a result, falling for this scam can cause serious issues beyond losing access to an email account.

Similar scam emails in general

Scams like this typically impersonate legitimate companies or organizations and use warnings to pressure recipients into clicking the included buttons/links. These links lead to fake login pages that closely mimic legitimate websites and are designed to steal credentials or other information. Sometimes, scams like this can be used to distribute malware.

Examples of similar scams are "Validate Mailbox Email Scam", "Email Account Status Changed Scam", and "Complete The Authentication Process Email Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malicious emails can include attachments like documents (e.g., Word, Excel, or PDF files), archives, executables, ISO files, or scripts. A device can become infected when these files are opened or when users enable features such as macros (or take other steps after opening malicious files).

Some emails contain links that redirect to fraudulent or compromised websites. These sites may initiate silent malware downloads or instruct users to download and execute malware. Typically, infections result from interacting with malicious links or attachments.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be wary of questionable (e.g., irrelevant or unexpected) emails and messages, particularly those that are unexpected or sent by unknown parties, and avoid clicking links or opening attachments within them. Steer clear of pirated software, keygens, and cracking tools. Always use official websites or app stores when downloading software and files.

Avoid clicking on pop-ups, ads, buttons, and links on suspicious websites. Ensure your operating system and applications stay up to date, and regularly scan your device using reliable security software.

Text presented in the "Failed System Update" email letter:

Subject: [********]: Please confirm to continue.

Mail ********
Your Email ******** has been temporarily blocked due to a failed system update. To restore full access and prevent service interruptions, please review the details and confirm your account.

Confirm your account

If no action is taken within 24 hours, access to your email will be permanently disabled.
LEARN MORE

Phishing page used in this scam:

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Quick menu:

• What is Failed System Update 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?

The email you received was not specifically targeted at you. Such emails are commonly sent to many recipients. Addresses are often gathered from compromised or fake websites, and scam emails usually lack personal details.

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

Update your passwords for any affected accounts and contact the relevant authorities or organizations if important personal or financial information may have been compromised.

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

The chance of malware infection depends on the type of file involved. Executable files (.exe) can compromise a system as soon as they are opened, whereas document files typically become harmful only when macros are turned on.

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

Opening or reading an email does not infect a device. A system can only be compromised if a harmful attachment is opened or a malicious link is clicked.

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

Using Combo Cleaner to scan a device can remove most malware. Performing a full system scan is especially important, as it can detect and eliminate hidden or more sophisticated threats.