What is the "Cleanup Of Pre-2021 Report Files" email scam

What kind of email is "Cleanup Of Pre-2021 Report Files"?

We have inspected this email and determined it is a phishing scam. The message poses as a notification from a web hosting provider, claiming older report files are scheduled for deletion and urging recipients to review the plan. Clicking the embedded link leads to a fake webmail login page that collects email account credentials. This email should be ignored.

"Cleanup Of Pre-2021 Report Files" email scam overview

The email claims that a scheduled cleanup will remove all report files dated before January 1, 2021 to manage storage costs and liability. Recipients are told approximately five years of data will remain accessible, and are urged to act promptly if they need specific files retained. A Check Files button is included to trigger the process.

Clicking that button leads to a page at gastric-turquoise-uqpzxsmk[.]edgeone.dev, which displays a fake webmail sign-in form. The page states that the recipient's previous session has expired and asks them to enter their email address and password to continue.

Any credentials entered on this page go directly to the scammers. A stolen email account can be used to read private messages, reset passwords for other online accounts, impersonate the victim when contacting others, and facilitate identity theft.

Cybercriminals behind campaigns like this often sell access to compromised accounts or use them to launch further attacks. In some cases, stolen email accounts are used to distribute the same scam to everyone in the victim's contact list.

No legitimate web hosting provider directs customers to a third-party login page through an unsolicited email. The entity referenced in this message has no association with this campaign whatsoever.

Similar scam emails in general

This is a phishing scam posing as a web hosting service notice. Do not enter any credentials on the linked page or interact with the email in any way.

Sometimes, scams like this are used to deliver malware.

More examples of similar scam emails are Request To Permanently Delete Your Account, IRS Document Available For Review, and Interactive Brokers Two-Factor Authentication.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals often distribute malware through email by attaching malicious files or embedding links to harmful pages. These files can take many forms, including executables, Office documents, PDFs, archives such as ZIP or RAR files, and scripts.

Opening a malicious file, or performing an action it requests (such as enabling malicious macro commands in a document), can trigger a malware download or installation. Typically, some form of user interaction is required before a system is compromised.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Treat unexpected emails with caution, especially those urging quick action or containing links and attachments. Avoid opening files from unknown senders and do not follow links in suspicious messages, even when the email appears to come from a known entity.

Download software only from official websites and authorized app stores. Avoid pirated programs, key generators, and cracking tools, which are commonly used as malware delivery vehicles. Keep the operating system and all installed applications up to date.

Use reputable antivirus or anti-malware software and ensure it stays active. Do not allow unfamiliar websites to send browser notifications. If you have already opened a malicious attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Cleanup Of Pre-2021 Report Files" email letter:

Subject: Notice: Cleanup of Pre-2021 Report Files

Cleanup of Pre-2021 Report Files

To manage storage costs and liability, we will remove all report files dated before January 1, 2021. Approximately 5 years of reports will remain available.

Older files are rarely accessed and continue to consume space. Please review this plan and contact us promptly if you need any specific files retained.

[Check Files]

Thank you for your understanding.

This message may contain confidential information intended for the recipient only. If received in error, please notify the sender and delete all copies. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

A fake webmail login page used in this scam:

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Quick menu:

• What is Cleanup Of Pre-2021 Report Files 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 to large lists of addresses gathered through data breaches, fake websites, and similar methods. They are not personally targeted - many thousands of recipients typically receive the exact same email at once.

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

Change the password of any affected email account right away. Enable two-factor authentication where possible for extra protection. If banking or payment details were also shared, contact the relevant institution without delay.

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

It depends on the file type. Executable files can compromise a device as soon as they are opened. Other formats, such as Office documents, often require an additional step, such as enabling macro commands, before any harmful process begins.

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

Reading an email is safe. Infection requires active interaction, such as opening an attached file, clicking a link, or enabling embedded content. No harm occurs from simply viewing the message.

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

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and removing most known malware. A complete system scan is recommended, as sophisticated threats can sometimes conceal themselves in locations a quick scan might miss.