14 DAY TRIAL // German users are advised to be on the lookout for bogus emails that threaten them with legal measures unless they pay their debt to an online hardware shop.
According to Avira, the emails carry a zip file, Mahnung.zip, which hides an executable named mahnung.exe. This file is actually a Trojan detected by Avira as TR/Dldr.Esitgun.A.
The IT security firm issued a similar warning a few months ago, when cybercriminals targeted German users with fake invoices. However, this time, the emails don’t purport to come from an online store, but from a debt collection agency.
This scare tactic might be an effective way to trick unsuspecting users into opening the malicious attachment.
Internauts are advised to treat such notifications with caution. If in doubt, contact the company in question by using contact details from its official website.