What kind of scam is "Invoice Payment Is Past Due Email Scam"

What is "Invoice Payment Is Past Due Email Scam"?

We examined this email and determined it is a phishing scam. The message poses as a billing reminder and uses an HTML file attachment that, when opened, displays a fake Microsoft login page designed to steal account credentials. The email should be ignored and the attachment deleted without opening it.

"Invoice Payment Is Past Due Email Scam" in detail

The email claims the recipient has an overdue invoice and urges immediate attention. It directs them to open the attached file for full details on the outstanding balance. No specific amount is mentioned - the goal is simply to create urgency and push the reader to open the attachment.

The attachment is an HTML file named Invoice#3568.htm. When opened in a browser, it loads locally on the device and renders a convincing invoice document in the background, complete with a service logo and itemized payment entries.

A Microsoft-branded popup immediately overlays the invoice. It claims to offer a "Verified & Trusted: Encrypted Connection" and prompts the user to enter a password and click View Document to access a supposed shared file.

Any password entered through this form goes directly to the attackers. A hijacked Microsoft account can expose the victim's email, cloud-stored files, and any connected business or personal services to unauthorized access.

Microsoft is not associated with this scam in any way. Its name and logo are misused here solely to lend false credibility to the fake credential form.

Email scams in general

In summary, this email is a phishing scam that uses a fake billing notice to prompt recipients into opening an HTML attachment. That attachment displays a fraudulent Microsoft login page locally in the browser, aiming to capture account credentials. Sometimes, scams like this are also used to deliver malware.

More examples of similar phishing email campaigns are Your Mail Account Is Overdue For System Update, ChatGPT Payment Reminder, and CMA CGM Shipment Tracking.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals distribute malware through email using malicious attachments or links. Attachments can be executable files, archives, PDF documents, Office files, JavaScript, and various other formats - each capable of triggering an infection when opened or executed.

Some files activate malware right away. Others require additional interaction, such as enabling malicious macro commands within Office documents. Emails may also carry links to compromised sites that push automatic downloads or trick users into running harmful programs.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be cautious with unsolicited emails, especially those involving invoices, payment demands, or shared document notifications. Do not open attachments or follow links in messages from senders you do not recognize or were not expecting to hear from.

Download software only from official, verified sources. Avoid pirated content, key generators, and software cracks, as these are frequently bundled with hidden malware.

Keep your operating system and applications updated, and use reputable antivirus software. If you have already opened a suspicious attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate any infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Invoice Payment Is Past Due Email Scam" email letter:

Subject: Reminder: Past Due Payment for Invoice 3568

Hello -,

Our records indicate that your payment is past due. Immediate attention is required.

Please view the attached invoice for full details of the outstanding balance and arrange payment as soon as possible.

If payment has already been made, kindly disregard this notice.

Thank you for your prompt cooperation.

Sincerely,

Anthony Carlson

A fake Microsoft login page displayed by the HTML attachment used in this scam:

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Quick menu:

• What is Invoice Payment Is Past Due phishing scam?
• 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?

These emails are sent in bulk to large numbers of people. Scammers gather addresses through data breaches, compromised websites, and similar methods. The messages are generally not personally targeted.

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

Change your Microsoft account password immediately, and update any other accounts that share the same credentials.

If you also entered banking details or shared identification documents, contact your bank or the relevant authorities without delay.

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

In this specific case, the HTML attachment does not install malware - it renders a local phishing form in the browser instead. The primary risk is credential theft rather than system infection.

That said, running a full system scan with trusted security software is always a sensible step if you have any concerns.

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

No. Reading an email without opening its attachments or clicking any links poses no risk. Your computer is safe if you did not interact with the attachment.

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

Combo Cleaner is able to detect and remove most known malware. Running a full system scan is recommended, as advanced threats can sometimes be engineered to avoid initial detection and remain hidden on the system.