How to spot scams like "FedEx - Shipment Has Arrived In Our Airport"

What is "FedEx - Shipment Has Arrived In Our Airport" scam?

We have checked the email and determined that it is presented as a FedEx notification of arrival. However, it is a scam email used to distribute malware. The file attached to the email is malicious and can infect the system once opened. Recipients should not trust this message and avoid opening the attached file to prevent malware infiltration.

More about the "FedEx - Shipment Has Arrived In Our Airport" scam email

This scam email states that a shipment associated with a specific airway bill number has arrived at an airport and is awaiting customs processing. It informs the recipient that shipping documents, such as an airway bill, commercial invoice, and manifest, are attached for upload to a customs system to prevent delays.

The message requests that the recipient reply with additional documents, including POA, SPPB, and BC23 documentation. It also provides phone numbers for contacting customer service and has a file attached to it named "FedEx Shipment Document_7199701041.xls" (its name may vary). This file is malicious and can infect a system.

The type of malware hidden in the attached MS Excel file is unknown. Nevertheless, it is likely an information stealer, cryptocurrency miner, ransomware, or a remote access Trojan. Executing the malware may allow cybercriminals to steal sensitive information (e.g., login credentials, clipboard data, credit card details).

The distributed malware may also be capable of encrypting files, using the infected device's hardware to mine cryptocurrency, providing cybercriminals with remote access to the infected device, and performing other malicious tasks. Thus, it is important to recognize scam emails and avoid opening files in emails of this kind.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this email is a scam designed to trick recipients into opening a malicious attachment by pretending to be a shipment notification. Opening the attached file can lead to malware infection, which may result in data theft, unauthorized access, or other serious security risks.

Therefore, such emails should be ignored and their attachments should not be opened. More examples of similar scams are " Hotel Room Upgrade Email Virus", "Login Notice: Review Immediately Email Virus", and "FedEx Express - Your Shipments Were Received Email Virus".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malware infections through occur through emails when recipients interact with harmful attachments or links. Messages may contain links that lead to fraudulent or compromised websites, which can automatically download malware or persuade users to download and run it themselves.

They may also include malicious attachments, such as documents (Word, Excel, PDF), compressed archives (ZIP, RAR), scripts, or executable files. The malware usually infiltrates once the file is opened or when certain features, such as macros, are enabled, or when other actions are taken.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Do not open attachments or click links in unexpected emails, especially if they come from unknown senders. Download programs and files only from official websites or trusted app stores. Keep the operating system and installed software up to date. Regularly scan the device using reliable security tools.

Also, avoid interacting with ads, pop-ups, or links on questionable websites, and never permit suspicious pages to send notifications.

Text presented in the "FedEx - Shipment Has Arrived In Our Airport" email letter:

Subject: FedEx Notification of Arrival - AWB# 7199701041

Dear Customer,

We are pleased to inform you that the above-mentioned shipment has arrived in our Airport

Attached is the copy of shipping documentations (Airwaybill, Commercial Invoice, Inward Manifest/BC1.1) for your easy upload into customs module to avoid delay.

We are expect you to reply this email attaching the softcopy of POA, SPPB and BC23 Documentations.

Should you have any questions, please call my direct phone number (DID) or you may contact our hunting number at +84 987835178

Best Regards,

Clearance Customer Service
FedEx
+97166203789 DID

File attached to this email:

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 FedEx - Shipment Has Arrived In Our Airport fake notification?
• 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 usually sent to many recipients at once and often do not include specific personal details. The attackers typically obtain email addresses from data breaches, deceptive websites, or similar sources.

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

Immediately change any passwords that may have been compromised, and inform your bank or the relevant authorities if your financial information could be at risk.

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

Executable files can infect a system immediately after being launched. In contrast, other file types, such as documents, typically pose a threat only if users enable certain functions or take other additional actions. Therefore, the likelihood of infection depends on both the file type and the user's actions.

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

Simply opening an email does not pose a risk. A device can become infected only if the recipient opens a malicious attachment or clicks on a deceptive link.

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

Combo Cleaner is capable of removing most types of malware, but performing a full system scan is recommended to identify any concealed or more advanced threats.