A seemingly simple email lands in your inbox: “Signature Requested via DocuSign.” It looks official, it’s urgent, and it asks you to take action. But here’s the catch — it’s a scam. This widespread phishing campaign is tricking thousands of users into handing over their personal information, and if you’re not careful, you could be next.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the DocuSign Signature Requested Email Scam. We’ll explain how it works, how to identify it, what to do if you’ve fallen victim, and most importantly, how to protect yourself.
Scam Overview: The DocuSign Email Phishing Campaign
The “DocuSign Signature Requested” scam is a dangerous phishing attempt disguised as a legitimate email notification. At first glance, it appears to come from the real DocuSign platform — a widely used service for electronically signing documents. This is exactly what makes the scam so effective: it leverages trust in a known brand.
What the Scam Email Looks Like
Here is a typical example of the scam email:
Subject: Action Required: Complete with Docusign
DOCUSIGN
Signature Requested
Hello,
You’ve received a new document requiring your signature. Please review and sign at your earliest convenience to ensure timely processing.
Document: Contract Agreement
To view and sign the document, click the button below:
Review & Sign
At first glance, everything seems legitimate. But here’s the truth: the document doesn’t exist. The email is not from DocuSign. The link does not lead to a document — it leads to a phishing website.
What Makes This Scam So Dangerous?
Brand Impersonation: The scam relies on DocuSign’s trusted name to appear credible. It may even copy the exact layout and branding.
Urgency: The email emphasizes that immediate action is required, pressuring victims to act quickly without second-guessing.
Phishing Tactics: Clicking the link leads to a fake login page, often mimicking Gmail, Outlook, or another popular email provider.
Data Harvesting: Any information you enter — email credentials, passwords, recovery answers — is instantly sent to cybercriminals.
Real Consequences for Victims
Once the scammers have access to your email account, they can:
Access sensitive personal and financial data
Reset passwords for your bank, cloud storage, or social media accounts
Launch additional scams using your email identity
Spread malware or ransomware
Blackmail you using compromising information
And these consequences aren’t just hypothetical. Thousands of victims have reported financial loss, identity theft, and reputational damage after falling for similar phishing schemes.
Common Variations of the Scam
Different Subject Lines: While “Action Required: Complete with Docusign” is common, scammers may use others like “Document for Signature,” “You have a pending agreement,” or “E-sign request.”
Fake Senders: Emails might appear to come from your HR department, a coworker, or even your boss.
Malicious Attachments: In some cases, scammers add attachments that install malware if opened.
This scam is evolving constantly, making awareness and vigilance your best defenses.
How the Scam Works
Understanding how the scam operates is key to recognizing and avoiding it. Here’s how the attack typically unfolds:
Step 1: The Phishing Email
It starts with an email crafted to look like an official DocuSign notification. These emails are professionally styled, using DocuSign’s logo, color scheme, and tone. They often contain:
A fake “document ID”
A generic but convincing message
A link or button that says “Review & Sign”
The sender address may appear authentic but often uses subtle typos (e.g., docusign-secure.com instead of docusign.com).
Step 2: Clicking the Link
If you click the button or link, you’re taken to a phishing site. These websites are designed to imitate real login portals like:
Gmail
Yahoo Mail
Outlook / Office365
Custom business domains
Step 3: Entering Your Credentials
You’re asked to log in to “view the document.” Once you enter your email and password, the information is immediately sent to the scammers.
Some versions of the scam may also prompt for additional details:
Phone numbers
Recovery email addresses
Two-factor authentication codes (sent via SMS)
Step 4: Account Takeover
Armed with your login credentials, scammers can now:
Log in to your email account
Search for sensitive data (bank statements, ID scans, etc.)
Use your email to send phishing messages to others
Reset passwords on linked services
They may also install backdoors or spyware to maintain access.
Step 5: Exploiting the Compromised Account
Scammers use hijacked accounts for a range of malicious activities:
Financial Theft: If bank or payment services are linked to your email, they may initiate fraudulent transfers.
Business Espionage: Corporate users may unknowingly expose confidential client or project data.
Impersonation Scams: Victims’ accounts are used to trick their contacts into sharing money or data.
Blackmail and Extortion: If compromising information is found, it may be used to demand ransom payments.
Each step is deliberately designed to seem legitimate, giving the victim no reason to suspect foul play — until it’s too late.
What To Do If You’ve Fallen Victim to the Scam
If you’ve clicked the link and entered any information, act immediately. Here’s a checklist of steps to take:
1. Change Your Passwords Immediately
Start with the email account you used.
Update all other accounts that share the same or similar passwords.
Use unique, strong passwords for each service.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Turn on 2FA for your email, banking, and social media accounts.
Prefer app-based authentication (like Google Authenticator) over SMS where possible.
3. Check for Unusual Account Activity
Review your sent items, login history, and access logs.
Look for unauthorized messages, password changes, or unknown devices.
4. Scan Your Device for Malware
Use reputable antivirus and antimalware tools.
Perform a full system scan to identify and remove malicious software.
5. Alert Your Contacts
Notify friends, family, and colleagues that your account may have been compromised.
Warn them not to open suspicious messages or links sent from your account.
6. Report the Incident
Report the phishing email to your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).
File a complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
7. Monitor Your Accounts
Regularly check bank statements, credit reports, and social media activity.
Watch for signs of identity theft, such as new account openings or unauthorized transactions.
8. Consider Identity Theft Protection Services
If you’ve shared sensitive personal info, consider subscribing to a credit monitoring or identity theft protection service.
Time is critical. The sooner you act, the better your chances of limiting damage.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the “DocuSign Signature Requested” email scam?
This scam is a phishing attack disguised as a legitimate DocuSign email notification. It claims that you have a document awaiting your signature and urges you to click a link to review and sign. The email is fake, and the link leads to a malicious phishing site designed to steal your login credentials or personal data.
How can I tell if a DocuSign email is fake?
Look for these red flags:
Generic greetings like “Hello -” instead of your name
Spelling or grammar errors
Suspicious or mismatched sender email addresses
Urgent language pushing you to act quickly
Links that lead to unfamiliar or misspelled domains (hover over them to preview the URL)
What happens if I click the link in the scam email?
Clicking the link will take you to a fake login page, typically mimicking an email provider like Gmail or Outlook. If you enter your credentials, they will be sent to cybercriminals who may take over your email account and use it to steal sensitive information, commit fraud, or launch more scams.
Can scammers access more than just my email?
Yes. Once scammers control your email, they can potentially reset passwords to other services linked to that email, such as:
Banking or financial accounts
Cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox)
Social media platforms
Online shopping or subscription services
Is DocuSign responsible for these scam emails?
No. DocuSign is not behind these emails and is not responsible for the scam. Scammers are merely impersonating the brand to appear trustworthy. DocuSign has published warnings about phishing emails and recommends verifying all document requests.
What should I do if I entered my email login info on the fake site?
Act immediately by:
Changing your email password and any reused passwords on other accounts
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA)
Scanning your device for malware
Reviewing recent activity for signs of unauthorized access
Informing your contacts that your email was compromised
Forwarding the scam email helps investigators block and shut down these phishing operations.
How can I protect myself from similar scams in the future?
Always double-check the sender’s email address
Hover over links to preview their destination before clicking
Avoid opening unexpected attachments or clicking urgent calls-to-action
Keep your antivirus software updated
Educate yourself on common phishing techniques
Is it safe to open the email if I don’t click any links?
Generally, opening the email alone is not dangerous, especially with most modern email providers. However, do not click on any links, download attachments, or reply to the sender. Just delete the message or report it.
Can these scam emails install malware?
Some variations of the scam may include malicious attachments (like PDFs or ZIP files) or links to download infected files. Opening or downloading these files can install malware or spyware on your device.
The Bottom Line
The “DocuSign Signature Requested” email scam is a clever and dangerous phishing scheme that preys on trust, urgency, and familiarity. It’s one of the many sophisticated cyber threats targeting unsuspecting individuals and organizations alike.
But you’re not powerless. By understanding how this scam works and learning how to spot the red flags, you can protect yourself and others from falling victim.
Stay alert, question the unexpected, and always verify before you click. Your digital safety depends on it.
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.
