Purchase Confirmation Email Scam: What Is It & How It Works
Written by: Stelian Pilici
Published on:
Spam emails are unsolicited messages that try to trick you into giving away your personal or financial information, or infect your device with malware. One of the common types of spam emails is the “purchase confirmation” email, which pretends to be a receipt or an invoice for a purchase you never made. In this blog post, we will show you how to spot and avoid this type of spam email, and what to do if you receive one.
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What is a “Purchase Confirmation” Spam Email?
A “purchase confirmation” spam email is a message that looks like it comes from a legitimate company or organization, such as a bank, an online store, or a utility provider. The email claims that you have made a purchase or a payment, and asks you to confirm your details, view an attachment, or click on a link. However, the email is actually a phishing scam that tries to steal your passwords, account numbers, or credit card information. Alternatively, the attachment or the link may contain malware that can harm your device or access your data.
The “purchase confirmation” spam email may use various tactics to make you believe that it is genuine, such as:
Using the logo, name, or domain of a real company or organization
Addressing you by your name or email address
Creating a sense of urgency or curiosity by saying that your account is on hold, that there is a problem with your payment, or that you are eligible for a refund
Mimicking the format and style of a real receipt or invoice
Including fake details such as order numbers, dates, amounts, or products
However, there are also some signs that can help you identify a “purchase confirmation” spam email, such as:
The email has a generic or vague greeting, such as “Dear Partner” or “Dear Customer”
The email contains spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors
The email asks you to provide sensitive information, such as your password, PIN, security code, or bank account number
The email asks you to open an attachment or click on a link that has a suspicious name or URL
The email does not match your purchase history or account activity
For example, here is a sample of a “purchase confirmation” spam email:
Dear Partner,
In response to our request, please find attached our Purchase Confirmation duly sgined and stamp in secured format please pay more attention to number (1&5) regarding contract details (Ref No. PO/27666/19) 4/18/2023 3:52:28 p.m. for your review and approval. Click on the link below to view documents
PO/27666/19
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this e-mail for our internal record purposes.
Best Regards,Ha Bao
The above email is a scam that claims to contain a purchase confirmation document as per the request of the recipient. The email provides some details about the supposed document and asks the recipient to confirm its receipt by clicking on a link. However, when the link is clicked, it redirects to a phishing website that mimics an email account sign-in page. The website asks the recipient to enter their email address and password, which are then stolen by the scammers
The scam works by exploiting the curiosity and fear of the recipients who may wonder why they received a confirmation for something they did not order or buy. The scammers hope that the recipients will either open the attachments or links out of curiosity or call or email them out of fear of being charged for something they did not authorize. Either way, the scammers aim to trick the recipients into giving up their personal or financial information, or infecting their systems with malicious software.
How to Spot the “Purchase Confirmation” Email Scam?
There are some signs that can help you identify a fake “purchase confirmation” email and avoid falling for this scam. Here are some of them:
The sender’s email address does not match the company’s official domain name. For example, if Norton were sending you a real confirmation message, it would not come from a dodgy-looking Gmail address. It would come from one of their real domains, such as @nortonlifelock.com.
The email contains spelling and grammatical errors, or uses poor formatting and design. For example, the email may have missing punctuation, inconsistent capitalization, or mismatched fonts and colors.
The email asks you to open an attachment or click on a link that does not look trustworthy. For example, the attachment may have an unusual file extension, such as .exe or .zip, or the link may have a long and random string of characters.
The email urges you to act quickly or threatens you with negative consequences if you do not respond. For example, the email may claim that you will be charged for something you did not order if you do not cancel it within a certain time frame.
The email requests personal or financial information that is not relevant to the order or shipment. For example, the email may ask you for your credit card number, bank account details, social security number, or other sensitive data.
How to Protect Yourself from the “Purchase Confirmation” Email Scam?
If you receive a suspicious email that claims to be a purchase confirmation from an online retailer, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your data:
Do not open any attachments or click on any links in the email. They may contain malware or lead you to phishing websites.<.li>
Do not reply to the email or call any phone numbers provided in the email. They may belong to scammers who will try to trick you into giving up your information.
Delete the email from your inbox and report it as spam or phishing to your email provider.
If you are unsure whether an email is legitimate or not, contact the company directly using their official website or customer service number. Do not use any contact information provided in the email.
If you have already provided your login credentials to a phishing website, change your password immediately and inform your email provider. Also check your other online accounts for any suspicious activity and change your passwords if necessary.
Use a reputable antivirus software and keep it updated. Scan your system regularly for any malware infections.
Use strong and unique passwords for your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication if possible.
Check if you’re device is infected with malware
The “Purchase Confirmation” emails can contain malware within the attachments or links that appear in the body of the email. By interacting with the malware — for example, opening or downloading an attachment that contains a malicious payload — the user may unknowingly infect their device or network, enabling attackers to gain access to protected applications and data.
To check your computer or phone for Trojans, browser hijackers, or other malware and remove them for free, you run a scan with Malwarebytes Free.
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.
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 Stelian Pilici
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.
