How to identify scams like "Update Your Ledger Firmware" fake request

What is "Update Your Ledger Firmware" scam?

Our team has analysed the email and found that it contains a fraudulent alert regarding a firmware update. The message is designed to appear as if it comes from Ledger, a legitimate cryptocurrency hardware wallet provider. The fraudsters behind this scam attempt to lure recipients to a fraudulent website where they are prompted to submit sensitive information.

More about the "Update Your Ledger Firmware" scam email

This fraudulent email claims that the recipient's Ledger device is running an outdated firmware version and must be updated by the specified date. It warns that failing to complete this mandatory update by the specified deadline may result in restricted access to the user's portfolio and increased vulnerability to security risks.

The message states that the update includes critical security enhancements intended to protect digital assets from potential threats. It urges the recipient to update the device using the provided link (labeled "Update Your Device Now") immediately. During our inspection, the link led to a site that was down.

However, it appears this scam aims to trick users into disclosing personal details, such as private keys, recovery phrases, or other account login credentials. With this information, attackers can steal the victim's cryptocurrency by transferring it to their wallets.

Since blockchain transactions are irreversible, retrieving stolen funds is difficult, and assets sent to a scammer's wallet are typically lost for good. For this reason, it is crucial to confirm the authenticity of any cryptocurrency platform before interacting with it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this email is a phishing attempt that uses a fake firmware update warning to pressure recipients into taking immediate action. Its goal is to redirect users to a fraudulent site where sensitive information can be stolen, leading to permanent cryptocurrency loss.

In some cases, emails of this kind can lead to downloads intended to infect devices. More examples of similar scams are "cPanel System Maintenance Email Scam", "Quarantine Report For Your Zoho Account Email Scam", and "One Time Password Authentication Email Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Attackers often use email as a delivery method for malware by attaching files that appear harmless. These attachments may include documents, compressed files, scripts, executable files, and others that activate malware once opened or when certain features, such as macros, are enabled.

Another common tactic is sending links that redirect users to deceptive or hacked websites. These sites may silently download malware or trick users into downloading and launching a malicious file (or software) themselves.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Keep your operating system and applications updated at all times. Regularly scan your device with reliable security software, and only download programs from official websites or trusted app stores, avoiding pirated software, cracks, or unauthorized activation tools.

Be careful when dealing with unexpected emails or messages, especially those containing attachments or links, and avoid opening anything that appears suspicious. Additionally, do not interact with ads, pop-ups, or links on questionable websites, and never permit such sites to send notifications.

The appearance of the scam email (GIF):

Text presented in the "Update Your Ledger Firmware" email letter:

LEDGER

Update Your Ledger Firmware by March 31, 2026

Dear ********,
We identified that your Ledger device is currently running an outdated firmware version. To ensure the highest level of security for your digital assets, we strongly recommend completing this mandatory firmware update by the deadline below.
!

Deadline: March 31, 2026

Failure to update your device by this date may result in restricted access to your portfolio and increased vulnerability to security risks.
Why This Update Is Essential
This firmware update includes critical security enhancements designed to protect your assets from potential threats. Without it, your device may be exposed to risks that could compromise your access to your funds.
Update Your Device Now
Take a moment to secure your assets by updating your Ledger hardware wallet today.

Your security is our top priority, and we are committed to helping you keep your assets safe. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our support team.
◯ Best regards,
Security Team

This notification was sent to ******** as part of our commitment to keeping Ledger device owners informed about important security updates.

Copyright © Ledger SAS. 2026 All rights reserved.

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Quick menu:

• What is Update Your Ledger Firmware phishing attempt?
• 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?

Scam emails are typically distributed to large numbers of recipients and are rarely personalized. The email addresses are commonly obtained from data breaches, deceptive websites, and similar channels.

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

Reset the passwords and any other exposed login details for accounts that may be affected, and inform your bank or the relevant authorities if your financial information might have been compromised.

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

Malicious executable files can compromise a device as soon as they are launched. In contrast, files like documents usually pose a threat only if the user takes extra steps. Therefore, the likelihood of infection varies based on the file type and the user's actions.

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

Opening a scam email alone is generally safe. A device can only become infected if the user clicks on links or downloads and executes malicious files.

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

Combo Cleaner can eliminate most threats, but running a full system scan is recommended to uncover hidden or more sophisticated malware.