Beware of the FAKE Quickheal Inc PayPal Invoice Email Scam
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Scam emails pretending to be from the antivirus software company Quickheal Inc are targeting users with fake PayPal invoices. The scam emails come from unfamiliar addresses and include false claims about your supposed support renewal payment being due. If you call the number in the scam emails, malicious actors posing as Quickheal Inc support agents aim to steal your personal and financial information. This ongoing scam has cost many victims – don’t let it happen to you.
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Overview of the Quickheal Inc Invoice Scam
This prolific scam starts with an email that appears to come from the legitimate antivirus software company Quickheal Inc. However, the messages actually originate from fraudulent addresses like support@quickhealinc.com, billing@quickhealinco.com, or quickheal-service@consultant.com.
The scam email claims you have an unpaid renewal invoice from Quickheal Inc for antivirus software support or protection services. Some examples show invoices for ridiculous amounts like $386 or even $500 to create urgency. The emails often include an attached fake PDF invoice as proof of the renewal payment needed.
If you call the phone number provided in the email, scammers posing as Quickheal Inc support agents will answer. They confirm some personal details to build trust, then request remote access to your computer to supposedly process a refund or cancellation. In reality, the scammers aim to steal financial information, install malware, and drain your bank accounts once granted access.
The urgent tone, poor grammar, suspicious attachments, and unfamiliar email addresses are red flags that signal this Quickheal Inc invoice is not legitimate. But the scam takes advantage of Quickheal’s reputation as a security company to convince victims the emails are real. Don’t let this scam make you the next victim.
How the Quickheal Inc PayPal Invoice Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step explanation of how the Quickheal Inc PayPal invoice phishing scam unfolds:
1. You receive an email claiming to be from Quickheal Inc.
The scam email is sent from an address like support@quickhealinc.com or billing@quickhealinco.com. The subject line often says “Unpaid Invoice” or “Renewal Payment Due.”
2. The email includes an urgent unpaid invoice for Quickheal Inc services.
The attached PDF invoice is fake. But it shows an amount like $386 or $500 with PayPal as the processor to create urgency. The invoice lists made up renewal dates, customer IDs, license details, and more.
3. If you call the number, scammers pretend to be Quickheal Inc support.
When victims call the number in the email, the scammers confirm some personal or account details to build trust in the call.
4. The scammers claim they see suspicious activity on your computer.
The fake support agent will say they’ve detected malware, viruses, or unauthorized logins on your device. This sets up the next phase.
5. They offer to remove the threats if you provide remote access.
The scammers say they need temporary remote access to your computer to scan, fix issues, and process your refund/cancellation for the fake invoice.
6. If you allow access, the scammers can install malware, steal info, and drain accounts.
Once granted access, the attackers can:
Record passwords, financial details, and personal data
Install malware and spyware for continued access
Drain bank accounts and steal money
Hold your device for ransom
7. You’ve now become a victim of fraud.
In the end, falling for this scam can lead to identity theft, financial account infiltration, and stolen funds. Quickheal Inc had nothing to do with the fake invoices and calls.
What to Do If You Fell for the Quickheal Inc Scam
If you called the number in a Quickheal Inc scam email and granted the scammers remote access, take these steps right away:
Disconnect your device from the internet. This stops the attacker’s access immediately.
Run anti-malware and antivirus scans. Check for and remove any malware, spyware, or viruses.
Change all account passwords. Update passwords for online banking, PayPal, email, and any accounts storing financial or personal data. Enable two-factor authentication when possible.
Contact your bank and credit card companies. Alert them to possible fraud on your accounts. Closely monitor statements and transactions.
Place fraud alerts. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to place fraud alerts on your credit. This blocks new lines of credit being opened.
File a complaint with the FTC. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Provide details on the scam email, sender address, phone number, and more.
Warn others. Share your experience publicly or on social media to spread awareness about the Quickheal Inc invoice phishing scam. Your story could prevent others from being victimized.
Being proactive after an attack is critical to help limit damages and prevent further misuse of your personal data. Don’t let embarrassment or fear stop you from taking action to protect yourself after falling for this scam.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
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 for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
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.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, 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:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
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.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
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.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Quickheal Inc Invoice Scam
1. What is the Quickheal Inc invoice email scam?
The Quickheal Inc invoice scam is a phishing scam where scammers send fake invoices claiming you owe money to Quickheal Inc for antivirus services. The scam aims to get victims to call a number where scammers posing as Quickheal support will gain remote access to steal financial information and money.
2. How do the scam emails reach recipients?
The fake invoices come from email addresses like support@quickhealinc.com or billing@quickhealinco.com instead of a legitimate Quickheal Inc email. The scam emails often land in spam folders initially before reaching inboxes.
3. What details are included in the fake Quickheal Inc invoices?
The fraudulent invoices list fake customer IDs, renewal dates, license details, and very high amounts due like $386 or $500. An attached PDF invoice tries to appear legitimate with the Quickheal Inc logo and PayPal listed for processing.
4. What happens if you call the number in the email?
If you call the phone number in the scam email, malicious actors pretend to be Quickheal Inc support agents. They will confirm some of your details, claim there are issues detected on your device, and offer remote access to supposedly fix the problems.
5. How do the scammers attack once granted remote access?
Once given remote access, the attackers can:
Record your passwords, financial details, and personal data
Secretly install malware for continued access
Drain your bank accounts and steal money
Encrypt your device files and demand ransom
6. What are signs the Quickheal Inc invoice is fake?
Warning signs include:
Urgent demands to call and settle payment
Unfamiliar sender email addresses
Fake customer IDs and renewal dates
Poorly formatted invoices and logos
Requests for remote access to process refunds
7. How can you avoid becoming a victim?
To avoid falling for this scam:
Delete suspicious Quickheal Inc emails instead of calling
Check your actual Quickheal account for any real invoices
Never provide personal details based on unsolicited emails/calls
Use strong unique passwords and two-factor authentication
8. What should you do if you fell for this scam?
If you provided scammers access, take these steps immediately:
Disconnect your device from the internet
Run antivirus scans to check for malware
Reset passwords on financial accounts
Contact banks and credit bureaus to freeze accounts
Report the scam to the FTC
9. How can you stay safe from similar invoice scams?
Safety tips:
Avoid calling numbers or clicking links in suspicious emails
Go directly to company sites instead of contacting senders
Use security software to block malware and phishing sites
Never provide personal or financial details over the phone
Verify invoices directly through your accounts
10. How can Quickheal Inc prevent their name being used in scams?
Quickheal Inc can help avoid scams by:
Increasing awareness of the scam on their site
Implementing DMARC and stricter email authentication
Providing more invoice and payment details on their portal
Offering enhanced account security like two-factor authentication
The Bottom Line on the Quickheal Inc PayPal Invoice Scam
This prolific scam starts with a fake invoice email claiming you owe Quickheal Inc money for antivirus services. The scammers are not associated with Quickheal Inc in any way. If you call the phone number provided, malicious actors posing as Quickheal support will gain remote access to steal info and money from victims.
Watch for these red flags to identify the fraudulent Quickheal Inc emails:
Invoice is sent from unfamiliar email addresses
Attachments have poor formatting or low-quality logos
Urgent demands to call support and settle payment
Requests for remote access to process refunds
Never call or provide personal details based on suspicious and urgent emails. Go directly to Quickheal Inc’s official website at quickheal.com if you have any payment or account issues. And remember Quickheal Inc support will never cold call demanding immediate payment. The savviest protection against scams is staying informed, vigilant, and cautious.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
Meet Thomas Orsolya
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
