The “Incoming Messages Held In Quarantine” Email Scam

A new phishing campaign titled “Incoming Messages Held In Quarantine” poses as an urgent notification from your email provider, claiming you have several inbound messages blocked by a “quarantine” system. In reality, it’s a scam engineered to trick you into handing over your login details and potentially enabling identity theft.

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Threat Overview

Aspect	Details
Threat Type	Email Scam / Phishing
Associated Email Addresses	Not specific to any legitimate domain; related to email.recommendation[.]digital
Detection Names	ESET – Phishing; Fortinet – Phishing; Sophos – Phishing; alphaMountain.ai – Malicious; CRDF – Malicious
Symptoms of Infection	Unexplained online purchases, unauthorized password resets, suspicious login activity
Damage & Distribution Methods	Theft of credentials, identity fraud, account takeover; spread via spoofed email messages with urgent calls-to-action
Danger Level	High — compromises critical personal data and linked accounts
Removal Tool	SpyHunter – Download here

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Scam Email Content

Here’s a typical example of what the phishing email might say:

Subject: [5] Undelivered Messages Pending in Mail Queue

Incoming Messages Held in Quarantine For [you@example.com]
Security Verification Required
Our system has identified 5 undelivered messages addressed to your account [you@example.com] that require verification. These messages were intercepted due to:

• Incoming large file attachments
• Unverified sender certificate
• Potential policy violation (Section 4.2 of the Acceptable Use Policy)
  To prevent permanent deletion of these messages, verify your account within 24 hours:
• Release to Inbox
• Verify Account Now
• Delete & Report
  Last delivery attempt: 6/16/2025 2:30:03 a.m. UTC

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Deep Dive: How This Scam Works

How I Got Infected

You receive a well-crafted email notification—complete with logos and official formatting—claiming that urgent action is required “within 24 hours.” The email includes links such as “Release to Inbox” or “Verify Account Now” that lead you to fraudulent login pages.

What It Does

When you enter your credentials on these fake sites, attackers instantly harvest them. They can access your email account and use it to reset other service passwords, send further phishing emails, commit identity theft, or even sell your data.

Should You Be Worried?

Yes. This scam is serious. Once scammers gain access to your email, they can impersonate you, access other linked services, perpetrate fraud, and compromise your identity. Because phishing emails often bypass spam filters, it’s critical to recognize and avoid these threats.

How to Manually Identify and Remove Email Scams

Manually removing email scams involves recognizing fraudulent messages, securing your accounts, and taking precautions to prevent future attacks. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify Suspicious Emails

Before taking action, you need to identify scam emails. Common signs include:

• Unknown Sender: Emails from unfamiliar addresses, especially if they claim to be from banks, tech support, or government agencies.
• Urgency or Threats: Scammers often pressure you to act immediately (e.g., “Your account will be closed in 24 hours!”).
• Poor Grammar & Spelling: Many scam emails contain obvious grammatical mistakes.
• Suspicious Links & Attachments: Hover over links (without clicking) to check the actual URL. If it looks odd, don’t click.
• Requests for Personal Information: Legitimate companies will never ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details via email.

Step 2: Do Not Click Links or Download Attachments

If you suspect an email is a scam:

• Do not click on any links.
• Do not open any attachments.
• Do not reply to the sender.

Step 3: Report the Email Scam

You can report the scam email to various authorities:

• Gmail/Outlook/Yahoo Users: Click the “Report Phishing” or “Report Spam” button in your email client.
• FTC (Federal Trade Commission, USA): Report to FTC Complaint Assistant.
• Google Safe Browsing: If the scam email contains a phishing website, report it here.

Step 4: Block the Sender

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

Step 5: Check Your Accounts for Unauthorized Activity

If you accidentally clicked a link or shared sensitive information:

• Change your passwords immediately. Use strong, unique passwords for every account.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
• Check your banking statements for unauthorized transactions.

Step 6: Scan Your Device for Malware

Some email scams contain malware hidden in attachments or malicious links. Run a full system scan using built-in tools:

• Windows Defender (Windows 10/11):
  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
  • Click “Quick Scan” or “Full Scan”.
• Mac Users:
  • Use Malwarebytes for Mac or another security tool.

Step 7: Adjust Your Email Security Settings

• Enable email filtering to reduce spam and phishing emails.
• Add a third-party spam filter such as Mailwasher or Spamihilator.
• Educate yourself and others on phishing techniques to avoid future scams.

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How to Remove Email Scams Using SpyHunter (Automated Method)

For users who prefer an automated, foolproof method to remove threats linked to email scams, SpyHunter offers an advanced security solution. SpyHunter is an anti-malware tool designed to detect and remove phishing-related threats, spyware, Trojans, and other cyber threats. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

1. Visit the official SpyHunter download page: Download SpyHunter
2. Click on “Download” and save the installation file to your computer.

Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Locate the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe) and double-click to open it.
2. Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
3. After installation, launch SpyHunter.

Step 3: Perform a Full System Scan

1. Open SpyHunter and navigate to “Malware/PC Scan”.
2. Click “Start Scan Now” to begin a deep scan of your system.
3. SpyHunter will analyze files, registry entries, and processes for any threats linked to email scams, phishing, and malware.

Step 4: Review and Remove Detected Threats

1. Once the scan completes, SpyHunter will list all detected threats.
2. Click "Fix Threats" to remove them.
3. Restart your computer to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Enable Real-Time Protection

SpyHunter includes real-time protection features to help prevent future infections:

• Enable Active Guards: This monitors your system for malware in real time.
• Schedule Automatic Scans: Set up periodic scans to detect new threats early.

Step 6: Keep SpyHunter Updated

• Regularly check for updates to ensure SpyHunter detects the latest threats.
• To update SpyHunter, open the app and go to "Settings" > "Update", then click "Check for Updates".

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Preventing Future Email Scams

Now that you've removed email scams, take proactive steps to prevent them in the future:

Use a Secure Email Provider

• Consider switching to a secure email provider like ProtonMail or Tutanota, which offer advanced encryption.

Be Cautious with Email Links

• If you receive an email with a suspicious link, verify the website’s legitimacy before clicking.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Activities

• Scammers can use public Wi-Fi to intercept your data. Use a VPN when accessing email on public networks.

Regularly Change Your Passwords

• Update your passwords every few months, and never reuse old passwords.

Use Anti-Phishing Extensions

• Install browser extensions like Bitdefender TrafficLight or Avast Online Security to detect phishing links in real-time.

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Email scams are a serious cyber threat that can lead to financial loss, identity theft, or malware infections. By following the manual removal steps, you can effectively identify and remove suspicious emails on your own. However, for advanced protection, using SpyHunter ensures a more thorough and automated approach to detecting and removing phishing-related threats.

Recommended Action

For a fast and efficient way to remove email scams and related malware, download and install SpyHunter now: Download SpyHunter

By staying informed and proactive, you can protect yourself from future email scams and online threats!

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Final Thoughts

• These messages are not legitimate and should be deleted immediately.
• Never click unfamiliar links or provide login credentials via email links.
• Always verify sender addresses and hover over links to check their real destination.
• If you suspect your credentials are compromised, change passwords using trusted sites, and enable two-factor authentication.

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Focused Removal Tool

To safeguard your device from more than just this scam, consider scanning with SpyHunter – a trusted tool in malware detection and removal:
Download SpyHunter