Avoid losing your email account via fake "New Webmail Version" emails
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of email is "New Webmail Version"?
After investigating the "New Webmail Version" email, we determined that it is spam. This letter encourages the recipient to switch their Webmail account to the latest version. The aim of this phishing mail is to obtain email account log-in credentials.
"New Webmail Version" email scam overview
The email with the subject "New letter" (may vary) informs the recipient that a new version of Webmail is available. The spam message urges the recipient to take advantage of the improvements and enhanced features of the latest version. The email warns that important letters may be lost if the switch is not made within 24 hours.
It must be emphasized that the "New Webmail Version" email is fake, and it is not associated with any legitimate entities.
After we clicked the "SWITCH TO NEW WEBMAIL VERSION" button presented in this letter, it resulted in a redirect to a phishing website. The site was presented as an email account sign-in page. Log-in credentials entered into this webpage will be recorded and sent to the cyber criminals behind this spam campaign. In addition to losing their emails, victims can have the content registered through them stolen as well.
Scammers can steal the identities of social account owners (e.g., emails, social networking, social media, messengers, etc.) and ask the contacts for loans or donations, promote scams, and even proliferate malware by sharing malicious files/links.
Furthermore, stolen finance-related accounts (e.g., online banking, e-commerce, cryptowallets, etc.) can be used to make unauthorized transactions and/or online purchases.
To summarize, victims of emails like "New Webmail Version" can experience severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
If you have already disclosed your account credentials – immediately change the passwords of all potentially compromised accounts and contact their official support.
| Name | "New Webmail Version" phishing email |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | New version of Webmail is available. |
| 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
We have examined thousands of spam emails; "You've Received A Secure File", "Dropbox Is Full", and "Interested In Buying Your Property" are just a few examples of phishing letters.
This mail is used to promote various scams, not just ones targeting data. What is more, spam letters are utilized to distribute trojans, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, and other malware.
How do spam campaigns infect computers?
Spam emails can contain malicious files as attachments or download links. The files can be archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), documents (Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), JavaScript, and so forth.
When an infectious file is executed, run, or otherwise opened – the malware download/installation is triggered. To elaborate, Microsoft Office files infect systems by executing malicious macro commands, while virulent OneNote documents require users to click on embedded content (e.g., files, links, etc.).
How to avoid installation of malware?
We strongly recommend exercising caution with incoming emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, and other messages. The attachments or links present in suspicious mail must not be opened, as they can be infectious. We advise using post-2010 Microsoft Office versions since they have the "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic macro command execution.
However, malware is not distributed only through spam mail. Therefore, browsing must be approached with vigilance because malicious online content usually appears harmless.
Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified channels. It is just as important to activate and update software by using legitimate functions/tools, as illegal activation tools ("cracks") and third-party updaters can contain malware.
We must stress that having a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date is essential to device/user safety. Security programs 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 "New Webmail Version" spam email letter:
Subject: New letter
New Webmail Version from ********
Dear ********,
We are delighted to announce the release of our new webmail version. This version comes with a host of improvements and features that will enhance your email experience by making it faster and more efficient.
To switch to the new version, click on the link below:
SWITCH TO NEW WEBMAIL VERSION
Please be advised that IMAP will be disconnected from the current webmail version within 24 hours . To avoid losing any important emails, we strongly recommend that you perform this urgent action.
Mailbox interface will change 24 hours after following the link
Best regards, ********]
Screenshot of the phishing website promoted by the "New Webmail Version" spam campaign:
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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner
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 read more.
Quick menu:
- What is "New Webmail Version" 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 not personal. Cyber criminals send this mail in massive campaigns – therefore, thousands of users receive identical letters.
I have provided my personal information when tricked by this spam email, what should I do?
If you have disclosed account credentials – immediately change the passwords of all possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you've provided other private data (e.g., ID card details, 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, just opening/reading an email will not initiate any malware download/installation processes. Devices are infected when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.
I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?
If the opened file was an executable (.exe, .run, etc.) – most likely, yes – the system was infected. While document formats (.doc, .one, .xls, .pdf, etc.) may require additional interaction (e.g., enabling macro commands, clicking on embedded content, etc.) 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 mentioned that performing a complete system scan is essential since high-end malicious software usually hides deep within systems.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion