![\"Scams\"](\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Scams.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n\n\nA new phishing scam has emerged involving emails with a deceptive \u201cFinal Release Waiver\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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The scam starts with victims receiving an unsolicited email with no context in the body, a vague subject line like \u201cFinal Release Waiver,\u201d and an attached Word document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The attached document is titled something like \u201cWaiver and Release Form\u201d or \u201cSeverance Agreement\u201d to sound official. However, clicking to open it leads to a fake Microsoft Office 365 login page rather than any waiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This phishing page mimics the real Microsoft sign-in portal, including using Microsoft\u2019s blue theme, logos, and graphics. An accompanying message urges you to sign in to access the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is how the \u201cFinal Release Waiver\u201d email typically looks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/p>\nSubject: Final Release Waiver
Please sign, date, and return the Final Release Waiver attached.
The complete version of this receipt has been attached to this<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nSpotting Red Flags in the \u201cFinal Release Waiver\u201d Phishing Attempt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are some indicators an email with a waiver attachment is a phishing attempt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- It arrives completely unsolicited and out of context from an unfamiliar sender.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- No details are included explaining why you must sign a waiver or release form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The attached document is a generic filename like \u201cWaiver.docx\u201d with no additional details.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The email tries creating a false sense of urgency to open the attachment quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clicking the attachment leads to a login page instead of a document.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The login portal has a suspicious URL and domain name, not Microsoft\u2019s real sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spelling, grammar, or formatting seems off compared to a professional corporate release form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Your name, the company named, or other specifics are inaccurate or missing from the attached waiver file name.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tactics Used in the \u201cFinal Release Waiver\u201d Phishing Scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are some of the deceptive tactics scammers use when orchestrating this scam:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Making the email appear to come from a legitimate business domain via spoofed sender addresses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Referencing a generic waiver, severance, or nondisclosure agreement to sound plausible<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Providing fake context that you must urgently e-sign an important attached document<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Naming the attached Word file something vague like \u201cAgreement\u201d or \u201cRelease Form\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Usingpopularity of Microsoft Office and OneDrive to get account logins<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Leveraging urgency and fear of missing a deadline to sign the fake document<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Employing authentic Microsoft branding, colors, and design on the phishing portal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Registering lookalike domains like \u201cmicrosoft-365portal.com\u201d to avoid detection<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Relying on victims\u2019panic to access the fake waiver urgently, lowering skepticism of the login page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These tactics combine to drive targets to open the deceptive waiver attachment and input their Microsoft account credentials without thinking first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to Do If You Entered Your Login Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you supplied your Microsoft login email and password into one of the phishing sites, take these actions immediately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Log into your real Microsoft account and enable two-factor authentication for added security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Change your Microsoft password to a new, complex one that the scammers don’t have.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check your sent emails, OneDrive, Sharepoint, etc. for any signs of unauthorized access and report any suspicious activity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Review Microsoft account activity for any potential compromised devices, suspicious IP locations, or unfamiliar app connections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Consider creating a fresh Microsoft account and migrating your OneDrive files and emails if malware was downloaded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Run antivirus scans on the device used to click the waiver attachment to check for infections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Monitor all accounts connected to the Microsoft login email for fraudulent activity stemming from the compromised credentials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Avoiding the \u201cFinal Release Waiver\u201d Scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are some tips to avoid becoming victimized by fake document phishing emails:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Never open attachments from unsolicited or unknown senders. Verify legality first.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check for slight email domain spelling differences like \u201cmicorsoft365\u201d instead of \u201cmicrosoft365\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If asked to urgently sign a document, call the company to confirm it\u2019s real before opening attachments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Double check the actual attachment file name for accuracy if supposedly sent directly to you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be skeptical of threats if you don\u2019t open and sign an attachment sent out of the blue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Look for grammar and spelling errors uncharacteristic of official agreements and waivers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pay attention to any brower URL misspellings or use of HTTP instead of HTTPS when directed to sites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Staying vigilant against surprise waiver and document attachments helps avoid having your credentials phished through this scam.<\/p>\n\n\n
Is Your Device Infected? Run a Free Malware Scan<\/h2>\n\n
Slow performance, constant pop-ups, or strange behavior? These are classic signs of a malware infection. A quick way to check is to scan your device with Malwarebytes Free<\/strong>, one of the most trusted malware removal tools available. If you only visited a scam page and didn’t download or install anything, this scan is optional.<\/p>\n\n
The free version detects and removes the most common threats, including:<\/p>\n\n
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- Adware<\/strong> \u2014 the cause of those annoying pop-ups<\/li>\n
- Browser hijackers<\/strong> \u2014 unwanted redirects and changed homepages<\/li>\n
- Trojans and spyware<\/strong> \u2014 hidden programs stealing your data<\/li>\n
- Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)<\/strong> \u2014 software you never asked for<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\ud83d\udc49 Select your device below<\/strong> \u2014 Windows, Mac, or Android \u2014 then follow the simple steps to download Malwarebytes, scan your system, and remove any threats it finds. The scan usually takes 5 to 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n