Cybercriminals Escalate Attacks with Sophisticated HR-themed Phishing Scam

A new, insidious phishing scam targeting employees’ Microsoft credentials has been unveiled by cybersecurity experts at Cofense. The scam, which masquerades as an official communication from a company’s Human Resources department, is meticulously designed to deceive even the most vigilant employees.

Email Body | Image: Cofense

The attack begins with a seemingly innocuous email, bearing the subject line “Modified Employee Handbook For All Employees – Kindly Acknowledge.” The body of the email includes formal language and directives typical for corporate communications. It begins with a polite greeting and swiftly transitions into a directive to review a revised employee handbook. The email stresses the importance of compliance by a specific deadline, typically by the end of the day, fostering a sense of urgency and importance among recipients.

Clicking on the email’s embedded link initiates a multi-layered deception. The victim is redirected to a series of convincing fake pages, including one mimicking a legitimate document hosting platform and another that convincingly mirrors a Microsoft login page. The user is ultimately tricked into entering their Microsoft credentials, which are promptly captured by the cybercriminals lurking behind the scenes.

The stolen credentials can then be exploited to gain access to a treasure trove of sensitive corporate data, including emails, confidential documents, and potentially even financial information. The implications of such a breach are far-reaching, potentially leading to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and even legal repercussions for the affected organization.

Cofense’s findings underscore the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures and ongoing employee education. Organizations must remain vigilant against evolving threats and equip their workforce with the knowledge and tools to identify and thwart phishing attacks.