A new phishing scam has emerged involving emails with a deceptive “Final Release Waiver” attachment. The emails pretend the recipient must sign a document attached, but it actually links to a fraudulent website to steal Microsoft account credentials. This article will break down how to identify and avoid this waiver phishing scam.
Understanding the “Final Release Waiver” Email Scam
The scam starts with victims receiving an unsolicited email with no context in the body, a vague subject line like “Final Release Waiver,” and an attached Word document.
The attached document is titled something like “Waiver and Release Form” or “Severance Agreement” to sound official. However, clicking to open it leads to a fake Microsoft Office 365 login page rather than any waiver.
This phishing page mimics the real Microsoft sign-in portal, including using Microsoft’s blue theme, logos, and graphics. An accompanying message urges you to sign in to access the document.
Once victims enter their Microsoft email and password, the credentials are stolen by the scammers to compromise Office 365 accounts, OneDrive files, Outlook emails, and more. The fake waiver merely serves as bait to capture login details.
No legitimate reason exists for someone to suddenly receive waiver or release forms unprompted via email from an unknown sender. Any such unexpected emails should be considered highly suspicious.
Here is how the “Final Release Waiver” email typically looks:
Subject: Final Release Waiver
Please sign, date, and return the Final Release Waiver attached. The complete version of this receipt has been attached to this
Spotting Red Flags in the “Final Release Waiver” Phishing Attempt
Here are some indicators an email with a waiver attachment is a phishing attempt:
It arrives completely unsolicited and out of context from an unfamiliar sender.
No details are included explaining why you must sign a waiver or release form.
The attached document is a generic filename like “Waiver.docx” with no additional details.
The email tries creating a false sense of urgency to open the attachment quickly.
Clicking the attachment leads to a login page instead of a document.
The login portal has a suspicious URL and domain name, not Microsoft’s real sites.
Spelling, grammar, or formatting seems off compared to a professional corporate release form.
Your name, the company named, or other specifics are inaccurate or missing from the attached waiver file name.
If an alleged waiver attachment sets off any warning signs, do not open it or enter login credentials on the site. Report the message to your email provider’s phishing and spam departments.
Tactics Used in the “Final Release Waiver” Phishing Scam
Here are some of the deceptive tactics scammers use when orchestrating this scam:
Making the email appear to come from a legitimate business domain via spoofed sender addresses
Referencing a generic waiver, severance, or nondisclosure agreement to sound plausible
Providing fake context that you must urgently e-sign an important attached document
Naming the attached Word file something vague like “Agreement” or “Release Form”
Usingpopularity of Microsoft Office and OneDrive to get account logins
Leveraging urgency and fear of missing a deadline to sign the fake document
Employing authentic Microsoft branding, colors, and design on the phishing portal
Registering lookalike domains like “microsoft-365portal.com” to avoid detection
Relying on victims’panic to access the fake waiver urgently, lowering skepticism of the login page
These tactics combine to drive targets to open the deceptive waiver attachment and input their Microsoft account credentials without thinking first.
What to Do If You Entered Your Login Details
If you supplied your Microsoft login email and password into one of the phishing sites, take these actions immediately:
Log into your real Microsoft account and enable two-factor authentication for added security.
Change your Microsoft password to a new, complex one that the scammers don’t have.
Check your sent emails, OneDrive, Sharepoint, etc. for any signs of unauthorized access and report any suspicious activity.
Review Microsoft account activity for any potential compromised devices, suspicious IP locations, or unfamiliar app connections.
Consider creating a fresh Microsoft account and migrating your OneDrive files and emails if malware was downloaded.
Run antivirus scans on the device used to click the waiver attachment to check for infections.
Monitor all accounts connected to the Microsoft login email for fraudulent activity stemming from the compromised credentials.
Avoiding the “Final Release Waiver” Scam
Here are some tips to avoid becoming victimized by fake document phishing emails:
Never open attachments from unsolicited or unknown senders. Verify legality first.
Check for slight email domain spelling differences like “micorsoft365” instead of “microsoft365”.
If asked to urgently sign a document, call the company to confirm it’s real before opening attachments.
Double check the actual attachment file name for accuracy if supposedly sent directly to you.
Be skeptical of threats if you don’t open and sign an attachment sent out of the blue.
Look for grammar and spelling errors uncharacteristic of official agreements and waivers.
Pay attention to any brower URL misspellings or use of HTTP instead of HTTPS when directed to sites.
Staying vigilant against surprise waiver and document attachments helps avoid having your credentials phished through this scam.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Conclusion
In summary, this phishing campaign sends fake emails with Word document attachments that instead redirect to credential-stealing login portals if opened. The scammers aim to trick Microsoft account holders into inputting their emails and passwords through urgency and deception. But legitimate companies will never suddenly demand you sign unsolicited legal waivers out of nowhere. Use caution opening any unexpected sensitive file attachments to protect yourself from having login credentials compromised through sophisticated phishing tactics.
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
