“Service Desk” Phishing Email

The “Service Desk” phishing email is a malicious spam campaign engineered to steal users’ login credentials by masquerading as a legitimate notification from an IT or network service provider. This scam tricks recipients into believing there has been a server error that temporarily blocked new emails from reaching their inbox. Victims are instructed to click a fraudulent link to view these “quarantined” emails, which leads to a phishing page designed to steal email account logins.

What is the “Service Desk” Email Scam?

The spam message falsely informs the recipient that their email service failed to deliver multiple messages due to a now-resolved server error. The email then urges users to “review” the messages or visit a “Service Desk Portal” under the pretense of updating their quarantine settings. The link directs users to a phishing website disguised as a Microsoft Excel file overlaid with a popup asking them to enter their email password to download the document.

By entering credentials on this fake site, users unintentionally provide scammers with access to their email accounts — potentially compromising financial, social media, and other associated services.

Example Text from the Scam Email

Subject: FWD: New Messages, not delivered to , Correct the Error now!

Service Desk

Hello ,

Our Server has prevented the delivery of some new emails to your inbox due to server error which have now been corrected.
kindly review these messages here and choose what happens to them.

View Emails

Emails will be deleted automatically after some days. You can change the frequency of these notifications within your email quarantine portal.

Alternatively you can visit the Service Desk Portal to update your email quarantine settings.

Support

This message is generated automatically by the server. Please follow the instructions in the email to resolve this issue or contact your network administrator

Phishing Email Summary

Manual Removal Guide: How to Identify and Remove Email Scams Yourself

Step 1: Recognizing Scam Emails

Before taking action, learn to identify email scams. Some common red flags include:

• Unknown Sender: Emails from unfamiliar addresses, especially if they claim to be from banks, tech support, or government agencies.
• Urgent or Threatening Language: Messages pressuring you to act quickly (e.g., “Your account will be suspended!”).
• Poor Grammar & Spelling Mistakes: Many scam emails contain grammatical errors.
• Suspicious Links or Attachments: Hover over links to check if they lead to an unusual website before clicking.
• Requests for Personal or Financial Information: Legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive details via email.

Step 2: Avoid Interacting with Scam Emails

If an email appears suspicious:

• Do NOT click on any links.
• Do NOT download attachments.
• Do NOT reply to the sender.

Step 3: Report the Email Scam

Reporting scam emails helps prevent others from falling victim to them:

• Gmail/Outlook/Yahoo Users: Click “Report Phishing” or “Report Spam” in your email client.
• FTC (U.S. users): Report scams to the FTC Complaint Assistant.
• Google Safe Browsing: Report phishing sites at Google’s Phishing Report.

Step 4: Block the Sender

To prevent further scam emails from the same sender:

• Gmail: Open the email, click the three dots, and select “Block [Sender Name]”.
• Outlook: Open the email, select “Junk” > “Block Sender”.
• Yahoo Mail: Click “More” > “Block Sender”.

Step 5: Check Your Accounts for Compromise

If you’ve interacted with a scam email:

• Change your passwords immediately. Use strong, unique passwords.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Adds an extra security layer.
• Monitor your banking transactions for suspicious activity.

Step 6: Scan Your Device for Malware

If you accidentally clicked a link or downloaded a file, scan your system for malware:

• Windows Users (Windows Defender)
  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
  • Click “Quick Scan” or “Full Scan”.
• Mac Users
  • Use security software like Malwarebytes for Mac to scan for threats.

Step 7: Strengthen Email Security

• Enable spam filtering in your email provider’s settings.
• Use a third-party spam filter such as Spamihilator or Mailwasher.
• Stay educated on phishing techniques to avoid falling for scams in the future.

SpyHunter Removal Guide: Automated Solution for Email Scam Threats

SpyHunter is a powerful anti-malware tool designed to detect and remove phishing-related threats, Trojans, spyware, and other cyber threats. If you prefer a quick and automated solution, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

1. Visit the official SpyHunter download page: Download SpyHunter
2. Click “Download” and save the file.

Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe).
2. Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
3. Once installed, launch SpyHunter.

Step 3: Perform a Full System Scan

1. Open SpyHunter and go to “Malware/PC Scan”.
2. Click “Start Scan Now” to begin scanning.
3. SpyHunter will detect threats linked to email scams.

Step 4: Review and Remove Detected Threats

1. After the scan completes, SpyHunter will display a list of detected threats.
2. Click "Fix Threats" to remove them.
3. Restart your computer after removal.

Step 5: Enable Real-Time Protection

• Activate SpyHunter’s Active Guards for real-time malware protection.
• Schedule regular system scans for ongoing security.

Step 6: Keep SpyHunter Updated

• Regularly update SpyHunter to detect new threats.
• To update, go to "Settings" > "Update" and click "Check for Updates".

How to Prevent Future Email Scams

To avoid falling for email scams in the future, follow these precautions:

Use a Secure Email Provider

Consider using encrypted email services like ProtonMail or Tutanota for enhanced security.

Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links

Always verify links before clicking by hovering over them to see the actual URL.

Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi

Scammers can intercept your data on public networks. Use a VPN for secure browsing.

Regularly Change Your Passwords

Use a password manager to generate and store secure passwords.

Install Anti-Phishing Browser Extensions

Use security extensions like Bitdefender TrafficLight or Avast Online Security to detect phishing attempts.

Email scams pose a significant risk to personal and financial security. By following this manual removal guide, you can effectively identify and remove scam emails. For those seeking a fast and automated approach, SpyHunter provides a reliable solution to detect and remove email scam-related threats.

Take Action Now

Protect your device from scam-related malware with SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter

Why Is This Dangerous?

Phishing emails like this are crafted to look legitimate and urgent, leveraging social engineering to manipulate victims. When scammers gain access to your inbox, they can:

• Impersonate you to request money from friends/family
• Reset passwords for other connected accounts (social media, banking, etc.)
• Distribute malware through your email
• Sell your data on the dark web

Financial accounts, if linked to the compromised email, are at severe risk of fraud and unauthorized transactions.

If you interacted with this phishing page or entered your credentials, it’s essential to act immediately by changing your email password and securing associated accounts. Using tools like SpyHunter can help identify and remove malicious software that may have entered your system during the scam.