What is the "Secure Document From HR" email scam

What kind of email is "Secure Document From HR"?

We have inspected this email and determined that it is a phishing scam. It pretends to be a secure, encrypted HR document shared through Microsoft Purview encryption, but it is actually designed to steal Microsoft account credentials. The email should be ignored and the link inside it should not be clicked.

More about the "Secure Document From HR" scam email

The email claims that Human Resources has shared a confidential document with the recipient. It states the message is encrypted and "protected", and that verification is required before the document can be viewed. A button labeled "View secure message" is presented as the only way to access it.

Clicking that button is expected to lead to a fraudulent login page styled to resemble a Microsoft or Office 365 sign-in screen. Pages like this typically ask victims to enter their email address and password under the pretense of unlocking the encrypted file.

Entering credentials on such a page hands them directly to the scammers. With access to a victim's Microsoft account, attackers can read internal emails, access shared files, reset other account passwords, and send further phishing messages that appear to come from a trusted coworker.

Microsoft is not involved in this scam and has no connection to it. The references to "Microsoft Purview encryption" and the Redmond address in the footer are included only to make the message look like a legitimate, automated notification from Microsoft 365.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this email is a phishing scam disguised as a confidential HR document protected by Microsoft Purview encryption. It aims to steal Microsoft account credentials through a fraudulent login page. Recipients should ignore the email and avoid clicking the link to protect themselves from account takeover and identity theft.

Sometimes, scams like this are used to deliver malware.

More examples of similar scam emails are Bank of America - Merchant Charges Refund, Polymarket Member Access Invitation, and MAERSK Shipment Ready For Dispatch.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals frequently use email to spread malware by attaching malicious files. These can be executable programs, Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, archive files such as ZIP or RAR, and various script files. Simply opening one of these files, or enabling a feature like macros, can be enough to start an infection.

Emails can also contain links instead of attachments. Clicking such a link may trigger an automatic malware download, or it may take the victim to a page that tries to convince them to download and run a file manually. In most cases, some interaction from the user is required before malware can install itself.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Treat unexpected emails with caution, especially ones urging immediate action or claiming to contain a secure or encrypted document. Avoid clicking links or opening attachments from senders you do not recognize, and double check unusual requests with the sender through a separate channel.

Only download software from official sources and avoid pirated programs, cracks, and key generators, since these are common vehicles for malware. Keep the operating system and installed applications updated, and use reputable antivirus software with up to date virus definitions.

If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Secure Document From HR" email letter:

Subject: Confidential HR Message from ********

Secure document from HR
Protected

You have a confidential HR message

Human Resources has shared a private document with you. This message is encrypted and requires verification.

[View secure message]

About Microsoft Purview encryption
Privacy statement
Unsubscribe
Encryption details

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052

This notification is intended for the recipient only.

Another example of an email from "Secure Document From HR" spam campaign:

Text presented within:

Subject: Immediate Attention Required: New Order ********

POWERED BY
******** HR has sent you a new document

******** Incentive Summary & Annual Compensation Review
Open Document

********

This document is confidential and intended for authorized recipients only.

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Quick menu:

• What is Secure Document From HR phishing site?
• 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?

Cybercriminals send deceptive emails to large groups of people at once, using addresses gathered from security leaks, fake websites, and similar sources. Usually, these emails are not targeted at any specific individual.

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

Change the password of your Microsoft account immediately, as well as any other account that shares the same password. If two-factor authentication is available, enable it for extra protection.

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

Executable files often launch malicious programs instantly, whereas documents, archives, or other files generally rely on user interaction, such as enabling macros or running an included installer, before malware actually activates.

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

Deceptive emails are harmless until a user clicks a link, opens a file, or otherwise interacts with the malicious content within. Therefore, your computer is not infected if you have only viewed this email.

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

Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and removing a wide range of malware, though more advanced threats may sometimes evade detection. Performing a full system scan helps improve the likelihood of identifying and eliminating threats.