Avoid getting scammed by fake "Saudi Aramco" emails

What is the "Saudi Aramco" email scam?

"Saudi Aramco email scam" refers to spam campaigns impersonating business offers from Saudi Aramco. We investigated four email variants distributed through said campaigns. However, this is a longstanding scam with many email versions.

It must be emphasized that these spam emails are not associated with the actual Saudi Arabian Oil Group (Saudi Aramco) or any other legitimate entities.

"Saudi Aramco" email scam overview

Typically, "Saudi Aramco" scam emails are presented as business offers and have been widely used to target the oil and gas industries. Older campaigns distributed malicious attachments (primarily Microsoft Excel documents) that, upon macro command enablement, infected victims' systems with Formbook malware.

We investigated four email versions associated with these campaigns. The letters had the following subject lines – "Aramco Project Request for Organizations & Customers 2023–2024", "Special Invitation, Aramco", "VENDORS EOI", and "Aramco Projects 2024 - 2025" (subjects may vary).

These emails are disguised as offers for potential partners, suppliers, vendors, and contractors. Recipients are requested to provide EOIs (Expression Of Interest) / ITTs (Invitation To Tender) and Vendor Questionnaires.

It must be stressed that the information in these letters is false, and this mail is in no way affiliated with the real Saudi Arabian Oil Group (Saudi Aramco).

EOIs and Vendor Questionnaires can include highly sensitive information that cyber criminals may abuse for a host of nefarious purposes.

While the four samples we examined had no malicious files attached to or linked inside them, it is not out of the question that the goal is to infect corporate networks. The emails lure recipients into contacting the scammers – hence, well-disguised infectious files could be sent at some point during the communication.

Therefore, victims of this scam could experience trojans, ransomware, or other malware infections. The risks associated can be of great significance, ranging from vulnerable information expose and public data leaks to data encryption for exorbitant decryption ransoms.

Alternatively, the scam could be facilitated through phishing files or sites that target log-in credentials of various accounts, personally identifiable information, or finance-related data. Additionally, scammers can ask victims to send them money directly under the guise of paying taxes or fees.

To summarize, by trusting an email like "Saudi Aramco" – users can experience system infections, data loss, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

If you suspect that your network is already infected – perform a complete system scan with an anti-virus and eliminate all detected threats.

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you have disclosed other private information (e.g., ID card details, passport scans/photos, credit card numbers, etc.) – contact the appropriate authorities without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Saudi Aramco" spam email
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Disguise	Business offer from Aramco.
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.
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Spam campaigns in general

We have investigated numerous spam campaigns; "Mitsubishi Corp. email scam", "Email Account Requires Verification", "Messages Have Been Blocked By Your Server", "Password Nearing Expiration", "Products We Want To Purchase", "SWIFT - Outward Wire Transfer Confirmation", "Order Details", and "Specification For The Item Requested" are merely some of our latest articles.

This mail is used to promote various scams, such as phishing, advance fee, refund, technical support, inheritance, lottery, etc. It is also utilized in malware proliferation. False claims are used to gain and subsequently abuse victims' trust.

While the commonly held belief that spam emails are full of mistakes is not untrue, it is not always the case. These letters can be competently made and even convincingly disguised as messages from legitimate entities (e.g., corporations, companies, organizations, authorities, etc.).

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam campaigns proliferate malware by distributing malicious files as attachments or download links. These files can be archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), documents (PDF, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, etc.), JavaScript, and so forth.

When an infectious file is executed, run, or otherwise opened – the malware download/installation chain is triggered. Some formats need extra interaction to initiate infection processes. For example, Microsoft Office files require users to enable macro commands (i.e., editing/content), while OneNote documents need them to click embedded files or links.

How to avoid installation of malware?

It is paramount to approach incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages with vigilance. We advise against opening attachments or links present in suspicious/irrelevant mail, as they can be harmful or infectious.

It must be mentioned that malware is not spread exclusively via spam mail. Therefore, we recommend caution when browsing since fraudulent and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and innocuous.

Another recommendation is to download only from official and trustworthy channels. Additionally, software must be activated and updated using functions/tools provided by genuine developers, as illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third-party updates may contain malware.

It is essential for device integrity and user safety to have a dependable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. Security programs must be used to perform regular system scans and to remove threats and issues. 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 first "Saudi Aramco" spam email variant:

Subject: Aramco Project Request for Organizations & Customers 2023–2024

Hello -,

We are extending an invitation to your valued company (-) to register as potential suppliers and partners for the Saudi Aramco Petroleum Refineries UAE 2023–2024 projects. Are all companies from around the world open to this project? If you're interested in participating, kindly request the EOI and Vendor's Questionnaire. We appreciate your interest in this invitation and look forward to receiving your prompt response.

Kind Regards,

Frida Abdul Assistant Project Manager.
Saudi Arabia Oil Company (Aramco) Al-Midra Tower Building 3rd floor, East Wing Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia.

Another variant of this email ("Special Invitation, Aramco" subject):

Text presented in this email variant:

Subject: Special Invitation, Aramco

Hello,
We extend a vivid invitation to your valued company to register as a potential supplier/vendor for Saudi Aramco company, on special projects for the last quarters of 2024/2025 respectively.
Companies from across the globe are open to these opportunities. If you are interested in participating, kindly request for EOI and Vendor's Questionnaire Form.
We appreciate your interest and look forward to assist you on the path to Saudi Aramco.

Kind Regards,

Khojandi, Abdulrahman H (SAO)
Strategic Sourcing Unit
Saudi Aramco
Al-Midra Tower Building 3rd floor,
East Wing Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
Email: abdulrahman@aramcoengage.com
Saudi Aramco, Al-Midra Tower Building 3rd floor, East Wing Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
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Another variant of this email ("VENDORS EOI" subject):

Text presented in this email variant:

Subject: VENDORS EOI

Greetings Sir/Madam,

We are extending an invitation to your valued company to register as a potential Vendor/suppliers and partners for the Aramco Petroleum Refineries 2024–2025 projects.

These initiatives offers a remarkable opportunities for cooperation and are accessible to businesses from across the world. We respectfully ask that you request the Vendors Questionnaire and EOI (Expression of Interest) if your organization is interested in participating in this endeavor.

We will give you the information you need to commence your registration with these projects upon your request. Our dedicated team will then reach out to guide you through the subsequent steps.

We appreciate your interest in this invitation and look forward to receiving your prompt response.

Kind Regards,

TALAL OMAR
Vendor Coordinator Group Procurement & Contracts Shared Services
Center
Saudi Aramco
P.O. Box 5000, Dhahran, 31311,
projects@aramco-tender.com
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Another variant of this email ("Aramco Projects 2024 - 2025" subject):

Text presented in this email variant:

Subject: Aramco Projects 2024 - 2025

Hello Sir/Madam

We are extending an invitation to your valued company to register as potential suppliers/contractors and partners for the Aramco Petroleum Refineries and other projects for 2024–2025.
All companies from across the world are open to this project, if you're interested in participating, kindly request the EOI and Vendor's Questionnaire Form.
We appreciate your interest in this invitation and look forward to receiving your prompt response.

Kind Regards,

Abdulrahman Mahfouz
Assistant Project Manager.
Saudi Arabia Oil Company(Aramco)
Al-Midra Tower Building 3rd floor,
East Wing Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia.
Email:director@saudiarabianationaloil-ae.net

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Quick menu:

• What is "Saudi Aramco" spam 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?

Regardless of any relevant information that they may include, spam emails are not personal. This data is typically obtained from publicly available sources or through phishing scams. Cyber criminals distribute this mail by the thousand with the hopes that at least some recipients will fall for their scams.

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

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all potentially compromised accounts and inform their official support without delay. However, if the disclosed information was of a different personal nature (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the corresponding authorities.

I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, reading an email is harmless. 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?

Whether the system was compromised might depend on the format of the opened file. Once launched, executables (.exe, .run, etc.) trigger (malware) download/installation processes almost without fail. Some other formats – like documents (.doc, .xls, .pdf, etc.) – might need additional user interaction to initiate infection chains (e.g., enabling macro commands, clicking embedded content, etc.).

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and removing practically all known malware infections. Keep in mind that performing a full system scan is crucial since high-end malicious programs usually hide deep within systems.

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