How to spot scams like "Cloud - Photos Not Syncing"

What is "Cloud - Photos Not Syncing" scam?

We have inspected the email and found that it is a deceptive message designed to appear as a notification from a cloud service provider. It promotes fraudulent websites that show fake messages to trick visitors into following the provided steps. Recipients should ignore this email to avoid the associated risks.

More about the "Cloud - Photos Not Syncing" scam email

This scam email claims that the recipient's cloud storage is completely full and that more than 1,000 photos and videos are no longer syncing to the cloud. It warns that these files are at risk of permanent deletion if the storage issue is not resolved. The message states that the user has exceeded a 50 GB storage limit and that automatic syncing has stopped.

The email recommends upgrading to a larger paid storage plan (a 200 GB premium option) as the only way to restore syncing and secure the files. The message is designed to pressure the recipient into believing that their photos and videos will be lost unless they purchase additional storage.

Additionally, the email claims to be coming from a cloud service provider to appear legitimate. Its purpose is to trick the recipient into clicking the provided link/button ("Upgrade to Protect Photos"). This link leads to untrustworthy websites that show other misleading messages.

Those deceptive pages claim that the user's cloud storage is completely full and that all syncing and backups have been paused because there is no available space. They state that photos and videos are no longer being uploaded and that the storage limit has been reached at 100 percent usage.

They also imply that the current subscription has expired or failed to renew, which is why the service is no longer working. They warn that all stored files, including photos and videos, will be deleted if the plan is not renewed immediately.

These sites lead users to websites with affiliate IDs in their addresses. These IDs allow scammers to earn money if someone clicks through and later subscribes, registers, or makes a purchase. Our analysis has revealed that fraudsters behind these websites often advertise popular security brands such as McAfee or XSHIELD to make the pages appear trustworthy.

It is worth noting that legitimate companies do not use fake warning messages, scam emails, scare tactics, and similar methods to promote their products or services.

Conclusion

This scam is designed to trick users into believing their cloud storage is full and their personal photos and videos may be lost. The real purpose is to generate profit for scammers through misleading promotions and affiliate marketing. Users should recognize fake warnings and similar messages to avoid falling for scams.

Examples of similar fraudulent emails are "Cloud Storage Plan Has Been Paused", "Cloud Account Scheduled For Deletion", and "Your Cloud Account Suspended". Sometimes, scam emails can be used to trick recipients into executing malware on their devices.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malware can be spread through email when threat actors attach malicious files disguised as legitimate PDFs, Office documents, compressed files, scripts, or executables. Simply opening the file or enabling certain features inside it can be enough to trigger an infection.

Another method involves including links in the email that lead to unsafe websites. Once a user visits these pages, malicious software may be downloaded automatically, or a user may be tricked into manually downloading and running malware.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Keep the operating system and all installed programs up to date and use reputable antivirus or anti-malware software regularly. Download applications only from official websites or trusted app stores, and avoid using pirated software, cracks, or key generators.

Be cautious with email attachments and links, particularly when messages are unexpected or come from unknown sources. Avoid clicking on pop-ups, ads, buttons, or any interactive elements that may lead to unsafe downloads or redirects while visiting questionable sites.

Text presented in the "Cloud - Photos Not Syncing" email letter:

Subject: Upgrade to resume automatic syncing.
Cloud Services

Photos Not Syncing
1,432 photos are at risk of deletion

Your 50 GB Storage Plan is completely full. Your recent photos are no longer syncing to the cloud. If your device is lost or damaged, these unbacked-up memories will be permanently deleted.
50 GB Used (Full) 50 GB Total
Unsynced Items 1,432 Photos, 12 Videos
Recommended: 200 GB Premium Plan
Upgrade to Protect Photos
Secure your memories immediately. Upgrade your storage to resume automatic background syncing and prevent permanent data loss.

Sent by Cloud Services Inc.
4563 Cloud Way, Server City, CA.

Fake websites used in this scam:

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Quick menu:

• What is Cloud - Photos Not Syncing 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?

Scammers often distribute identical emails to large groups of people at the same time. They usually obtain email addresses from leaked data, security breaches, or websites designed to collect user information through deception.

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

If scammers obtained login information, those details should be changed immediately. If financial or personal data is compromised, the service provider should be informed. The incident should also be reported to the relevant authorities.

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

The risk of infection depends on the type of file and how the user interacts with it. Executable files can cause harm as soon as they are run. Document files are usually only dangerous if features like macros are enabled or other additional actions are taken.

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

Opening an email alone does not infect a system. Infection can only occur if a malicious attachment is opened or if a link inside the message is clicked.

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

Combo Cleaner is able to detect and remove many different types of malware. However, some more advanced threats can hide deep within the system and may be harder to find. Because of this, running a full system scan is advised.