What sort of email scam is "DocuSign - Payment Authorization Notice"

What kind of email is "DocuSign - Payment Authorization Notice"?

We have examined this email and determined it is a phishing scam. The message impersonates a legitimate DocuSign notification, falsely claiming that a payment authorization document awaits the recipient's signature. Clicking the embedded link leads to a fraudulent website designed to steal email account credentials. This email should be ignored.

"DocuSign - Payment Authorization Notice" email scam overview

The email presents itself as an official DocuSign "Payment Authorization Notice," claiming a document has been securely shared with the recipient and requires their signature to confirm payment terms. It urges immediate action to avoid processing delays.

Clicking the "Review & Authorize Payment" button redirects to a phishing website at khjfdgsfsdfhjklljdhgdstryt-dp97141gwv85[.]edgeone.dev. The page is designed to detect the recipient's email service provider and display a matching fake login form. Gmail users, for instance, are shown a page styled to resemble Gmail's sign-in screen.

Any credentials typed into this fake page go directly to the scammers. A compromised email account gives cybercriminals access to stored messages, linked services, and personal data. They can also use it to reset passwords on other accounts or send further scam emails to the victim's contacts.

DocuSign has no connection to this scam. Cybercriminals are simply abusing the company's trusted name to make the fraudulent email appear legitimate.

Phishing spam campaign examples

In conclusion, this is a phishing scam that abuses DocuSign's branding to steal email account credentials. Similar campaigns are occasionally used to distribute malware as well.

More examples of similar scam emails are Document Requires Your Electronic Signature, High-Severity Alert Has Been Triggered, and Unauthorized Login Attempt.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Threat actors commonly deliver malware via email using malicious file attachments or links to harmful pages. Attached files may be executables, archives, Microsoft Office documents, PDF files, or scripts. Running an executable or enabling malicious macro commands in a document can trigger an infection.

Malicious links in spam emails can lead to websites that download harmful software automatically or instruct the visitor to do so. Either way, some degree of user interaction is typically needed before malware takes hold. Avoiding unknown attachments and links is one of the most effective ways to stay safe.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be skeptical of unexpected emails, even those that appear to come from well-known services. Do not open attachments or click links sent by senders you cannot verify. Legitimate companies like DocuSign do not ask users to sign in through unrecognized third-party pages.

Only download software from official sources and app stores. Avoid cracked software, key generators, and unofficial patch tools, which often carry hidden malware. Keeping your operating system and applications updated is also important, as updates frequently patch vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.

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 "DocuSign - Payment Authorization Notice" email letter:

Subject: Complete with Docu-Sign: Thomas.pdf. Please Sign -DocuSign Payment Authorization notification

DocuSign
Payment Authorization Notice
Dear Thomas,

A Payment Authorization Document has been securely shared with you via DocuSign. This document requires your review and signature to confirm authorization of the payment terms outlined.

Please complete the authorization promptly to avoid delays in processing.
[Review & Authorize Payment]

Secure delivery provided via DocuSign. Your information remains encrypted and protected.
This message was generated automatically.
If this payment document is not relevant to you, no action is required.

For assistance, please contact the sender directly or visit the DocuSign Support Center.

A fake email login page used in this scam:

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Quick menu:

• What is DocuSign - Payment Authorization Notice 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 messages are sent out in large batches and are not personally targeted. Scammers build their mailing lists using email addresses obtained from data breaches, fake sign-up forms, and similar sources.

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

If you entered your email credentials on the linked page, change those passwords immediately. Update the passwords on any other accounts using the same login details. If you also disclosed payment or identification information, contact your bank or the appropriate authorities right away.

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

It depends on the file type. Executables can begin compromising a system the moment they are opened. Documents such as PDFs or Office files generally need additional user action, for example enabling macro commands, before malware is triggered.

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

Reading an email without clicking any links or opening attachments is safe. An infection only occurs when a user actively interacts with malicious content, such as an attachment or an embedded link.

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

Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and removing the vast majority of known malware infections. Running a complete system scan is important, as some sophisticated threats may conceal themselves in areas a partial scan could overlook.