How to spot scams like "JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is "JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department"?
Upon investigation, it has been determined that the intent of this email is to deceive recipients into sharing their personal information. The scammers behind this email pose as representatives from the JPMorgan Chase online security department, aiming to deceive recipients into providing the requested information on the fraudulent form attached to the email.
More about the "JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department" scam email
This phishing email addresses the recipient as a JPMorgan Chase customer. It claims that due to recent fraudulent activities on some JPMorgan Chase online accounts, the Federal Reserve has introduced an Advanced Online Security program to enhance online banking security.
The email further states that all JPMorgan Chase customers are required to update their information to verify the authenticity of their accounts and ensure that their personal information is secure. In order to initiate this update, the recipient is instructed to open the attachment labeled "chase.html" and provide all requested details.
It warns that failing to update the information within the next 72 hours will result in an account hold, as mandated by the Federal Reserve. However, this email is a phishing attempt aimed at tricking recipients into providing personal information to cybercriminals posing as JPMorgan Chase.
The file attached to this email requests to provide details such as first and last name, email address, mother's maiden name, date of birth, phone number, and annual income. It is likely that scammers may also ask for other sensitive information (such as credit card details).
If recipients fall for this phishing attempt and provide personal information, cybercriminals could use this information to assume their identity. They might open fraudulent accounts, apply for credit, or engage in other criminal activities.
By gathering sensitive financial information, such as bank account numbers and credit card details, scammers can commit financial fraud. They may make unauthorized transactions, empty bank accounts, or rack up charges on the victim's credit cards, causing significant financial losses.
| Name | JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department Email Scam |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Recipients are required to update their information to verify the authenticity of their bank accounts |
| Attachment | chase.html (its name may vary) |
| Detection Names (Attachment) | Avast (HTML:PhishingBank-ALE [Phish]), AVG (HTML:PhishingBank-ALE [Phish]), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Disguise | Letter from JPMorgan Chase online security department |
| 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. |
Similar scam emails in general
Usually, emails of this kind impersonate trusted organizations or institutions, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known companies, to gain the recipient's trust. These emails frequently create a sense of urgency, pressuring recipients to take immediate action, like updating information or clicking on links, to avoid supposed consequences.
Furthermore, such emails may include attachments or links that, when opened or clicked, lead to malicious websites or downloads, enabling cybercriminals to steal information or install malware. Examples of similar scams are "Switch To New Version", "Documents And Funds Have Been Credited", and "Overdue Invoice".
How do spam campaigns infect computers?
Attachments in emails, even if they seem harmless, can contain malware. Opening these attachments, especially from sources you do not recognize or trust, can result in malware being planted on your computer. Some emails may also try to persuade you to enable macros in attached documents. Doing so can activate malicious scripts and lead to an infection.
Additionally, clicking on malicious links within emails can redirect you to malicious websites. These websites might use tactics like drive-by downloads or social engineering to take advantage of vulnerabilities and introduce malware to your system.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Be cautious when opening email attachments or links, especially if you do not know the sender or the email seems suspicious. Avoid interacting with ads from sources you do not trust, and stay away from questionable websites. Keep your operating system, software applications, and web browsers up to date to fix potential security weaknesses.
Only download files and programs from reliable sources like official websites or trusted app stores. Protect your computer by installing reputable antivirus or anti-malware software to defend against various threats. 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 "JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department" email letter:
Subject: Account update
Dear JPMorgan Chase Customer,
Due to recent fraudulent activities on some of JPMorgan Chase online accounts the Federal Reserve has launched a new Advanced Online Security program to make JPMorgan Chase online banking more secure and safe.
As mandated by the Federal Reserve we are requesting all JPMorgan chase customers to update their details to enable us to reconfirm the authenticity of account holders and verify that your account security and personal information has not been compromised.
To begin this update we have attached a secured "Electronic S.A.F.e act Form" from the Federal Reserve, Download and fill out all requested information.
Failure to update your details within the next 72 hours will lead to a hold on your account as mandated by the Federal Reserve.
Thank you for helping us make JPMorgan the safest bank on the internet.
Sincerely,
JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department
Chase Online Security Team
Screenshot of the fake form attached to this email:
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Quick menu:
- What is JPMorgan Chase Online Security Department 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?
Scammers send the same messages to a broad audience, hoping to deceive at least one person. Usually, these spam emails are not personalized in any way.
I have provided my personal information when tricked by this email, what should I do?
Keep a vigilant eye on your financial accounts and credit reports for any signs of unusual activity. Additionally, report the situation to your local law enforcement and the appropriate fraud prevention agencies to help reduce the potential risks associated with identity theft or financial fraud.
I have downloaded and opened a file attached to this email, is my computer infected?
No, the file attached to this letter is not meant to infect computers with any malware.
I have sent cryptocurrency to the address presented in such email, can I get my money back?
Tracking these transactions is extremely challenging, making it unlikely for you to retrieve the funds.
I have read the email but did not open the attachment, is my computer infected?
Opening an email is completely safe. The actual risk arises when recipients click on links within the email or open attached files.
Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?
Combo Cleaner can identify and remove most malware infections, but it is important to recognize that advanced malware can be hidden in your system. Conducting a full system scan is vital to ensure detection and complete removal.
Outstanding!
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