Avoid getting scammed by "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" phishing email
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of email is "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification"?
After analyzing the "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" email, we determined that it is spam operating as a phishing scam. This mail claims that an error had occurred on the recipient's email account and prevented messages from researching the inbox. To release the nonexistent letters - the recipient is instructed to press a link that redirects to a phishing website targeting email account log-in credentials.
"Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" email scam overview
The scam email with the subject "[recipient_email_address] ERROR 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm" (may vary) is presented as a notification regarding a server error on the recipient's mail account. Due to the mishap, multiple letters have failed to reach the inbox. The recipient is encouraged to click the "RELEASE MESSAGES TO INBOX NOW" link that leads to a phishing site.
This website is presented as an email account sign-in page asking visitors to log in for authorization purposes. The passwords entered into this webpage will be disclosed to the cyber criminals behind this spam campaign. Hence, the scammers can steal the exposed account and even the content registered through it.
The hijacked accounts, platforms, and services can be variously abused for profit. For example, the criminals can use finance-related accounts (e.g., online banking, e-commerce, digital wallets, etc.) to make fraudulent transactions or online purchases.
Scammers can also present themselves as the real owners of social accounts (e.g., emails, social media, social networking, etc.) and ask the contacts, friends, or followers for loans or donations. Alternatively, the communication platforms can be employed to spread malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, etc.) by sharing malicious files or links.
To summarize, via spam emails like "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" - users can experience system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
If you have already entered your account log-in credentials into a phishing website - immediately change the passwords of all possibly compromised accounts and contact their official support.
| Name | "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" phishing email |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Incoming emails failed to reach the inbox due to a server error. |
| Symptoms | Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of the computer. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains. |
| Damage | Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Phishing spam campaign examples
"Used Memory Account Storage", "New Update On Your Account", "Your Password Is About To Expire Tomorrow", and "Verify Your Email Address" are merely some examples of phishing emails.
Spam mail can be variously disguised and use different scam models. In addition to different schemes, these letters are employed to spread malware. Due to how well-disguised, dangerous, and widespread this mail is - we strongly recommend exercising caution with incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages.
How do spam campaigns infect computers?
Infectious files are distributed as attachments or download links in spam mail. These files can be in various formats, e.g., Microsoft Office and PDF documents, archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), JavaScript, and so forth.
When a virulent file is opened - the infection chain (i.e., malware download/installation) is jumpstarted. For example, Microsoft Office documents infect devices by executing malicious macro commands.
How to avoid installation of malware?
The attachments or links found in suspicious/irrelevant emails and other messages - must not be opened, as they can be malicious and cause system infections. It is crucial to use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010 - since they have the "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic macro command execution.
Note that malware is not proliferated exclusively through spam mail. Therefore, we also advise downloading only from official and trustworthy sources. Additionally, software must be activated and updated using functions/tools provided by legitimate developers, as illegal activation tools ("cracks") and fake updaters may contain malware.
It is just as important to be cautious while browsing since fake and hazardous online content typically appears ordinary and innocuous.
We must stress the importance of having a dependable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. Security software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.
Text presented in the "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" spam email letter:
Subject: ******** ERROR 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm
Incoming Messages ERROR Notification
Incoming new messages are suspended on the server.
There was a server error on ********
Date: 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm
User: ********
[ Error Fixed ] Release all messages now, use the link: RELEASE MESSAGES TO INBOX NOW
Quarantined email
Recipient: Subject: Date:
1. ******** RFQ 77301********** 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm RELEASE NOW
2. ******** Re: INV********* 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm RELEASE NOW
3. ******** RRC BIL***** 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm RELEASE NOW
4. ******** RE: NEW ****** 11/23/2022 06:41:17 pm RELEASE NOW
Screenshot of the phishing website promoted by the "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" spam campaign:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "Incoming Messages ERROR Notification" phishing email?
- 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?
Spam emails are distributed in massive campaigns - therefore, thousands of users receive identical messages.
I have provided my personal information when tricked by this spam email, what should I do?
If you've disclosed log-in credentials - immediately change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if the provided data was of a different personal nature (e.g., ID card details, passport scans/photos, credit card numbers, etc.) - contact the appropriate authorities without delay.
I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?
No, opening an email is harmless. However, when the attachments or links found in spam mail are opened - they can trigger malware download/installation processes.
I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?
Whether an infection occurred might depend on the file's format. If the opened file was an executable (.exe, .run, etc.) - most likely, yes - your device was infected. However, documents (.doc, .xls, etc.) may require additional actions (e.g., enabling macro commands) to start downloading/installing malware.
Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?
Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and eliminating most of the known malware infections. It must be emphasized that since high-end malicious programs usually hide deep within systems - performing a complete system scan is paramount for the detection.
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