What is "DHL Express - Shipment Arrived" malspam

What is the "DHL Express - Shipment Arrived Email Virus"?

After inspecting this email, we determined that it is malspam. The message pretends to be a shipment notification from DHL Express, urging recipients to open an attached file that supposedly contains shipping documents. In reality, the attachment is designed to deliver malware, so the email should be ignored and deleted.

More about the "DHL Express - Shipment Arrived Email Virus" email

The email claims that a shipment tied to a waybill number arrived at a post service center and is now scheduled for delivery. It lists a contact name and a delivery date to appear legitimate, then asks the recipient to open an attached file said to contain the shipment details. DHL Express has no connection to this email; the company's name is only used to make the message look trustworthy.

The attachment, named "AWB DOCUMENT 7820456066.xls", is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that opens in Protected View and shows little more than a couple of empty, merged cells. That emptiness is the point: victims are expected to click "Enable Editing" in the hope of revealing the missing content.

Enabling editing is exactly the action needed to run hidden code inside the file. Once that happens, macros embedded in the spreadsheet can execute and quietly download malware onto the computer in the background.

The type of malware delivered through this attachment is currently unknown. It could be a trojan (backdoor, loader, downloader, dropper, injector, stealer, spyware, keylogger, clipper, cryptominer), ransomware, or a remote access trojan, since spam campaigns like this one are commonly used to spread all of the above.

Interacting with this attachment can lead to data loss, financial loss, or identity theft, depending on what is ultimately installed. The email should be ignored, its attachment left unopened, and the message deleted. Users who already opened the file should run a full system scan with a reputable antivirus tool.

Malspam campaign examples

This email is a scam impersonating DHL Express with a fake customs-warehouse shipment notice. Its attachment hides malware capable of stealing data, encrypting files, or granting remote access, depending on what is ultimately installed. Suspicious emails like this one should always be verified before any attachment is opened.

Examples of similar malspam are Trip.com Booking Confirmation, Insoorya Express Cargo Shipment Documents, and Finance Department Secure Document. Spam mail is used to proliferate all kinds of malware.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malicious spam typically relies on infected attachments or deceptive download links to spread malware. Attachments can take the form of documents, PDFs, archives, or executables that look harmless but contain hidden code. Some formats infect a system the moment they are opened, while others, like Office documents, need the recipient to enable macros or similar features first.

Links included in spam emails can lead to compromised or fake websites that automatically start a download, or that trick the visitor into manually running a malicious file. Either way, the goal is the same: get the victim to execute code that installs malware without realizing what is happening.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Treat unexpected emails with caution, especially ones urging immediate action over a shipment, invoice, or legal matter. Avoid opening attachments or clicking links sent by unknown or suspicious senders, and verify unexpected shipping notices directly through the courier's official website instead of the email itself.

Keep the operating system and installed software updated, download programs only from official sources, and avoid pirated software, cracks, or key generators, since these are common malware carriers as well.

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 "DHL Express - Shipment Arrived" email letter:

Subject: DHL AWB 7820456066 NOTIFICATION FOR FINAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHIPMENT TO CUSTOMS WAREHOUSE

Dear valued Customer,

Your shipment with Waybill NO: 3809 *** 831 arrived at our post service center on Tuesday 28/07/2026.

The mail address given on the document, that is why we are reaching out to you.

ATTACHED Herewith is the shipment details & documents. Kindly Download / Review and acknowledge receipt.

NUMBER: 1
WAYBILL NUMBER: 3809 *** 831
SCHEDULED DELIVERY: Monday, 3rd August, 2026
CONTACT PERSON: John

NOTE: After viewing documents, Please reply and acknowledge that you receive this mail in order to avoid repeated notification.

Kind Regards,

DHL Express International Team

DHL Express | [Contact DHL] | [Privacy Policy] | [Unsubscribe]

2026 © DHL International Shipping. All rights reserved.

Malicious document attached to the email:

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Quick menu:

• What is DHL Express - Shipment Arrived malspam?
• 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 distribute identical messages to large numbers of people, hoping at least one recipient will be deceived. These emails are not personalized, even though they may include a name, tracking number, or other detail that looks specific to you.

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

Update passwords for any accounts whose login credentials may have been exposed. Contact your bank or the proper authorities immediately if personal or financial information was shared.

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

Whether an infection was triggered depends on the file's format. Executables infect systems nearly without fail, while document formats like this Excel file may require additional actions, such as enabling macro commands, before anything is installed.

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

No, merely reading a spam email will not initiate any infection processes. Malware download and installation is triggered only when the attachment present in this mail is opened and, in this case, editing is enabled.

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

Combo Cleaner can find and remove most known malware, though some advanced threats may remain hidden deep in the system. Performing a full system scan is advised to eliminate concealed and (or) advanced malicious software.