Your Last Receipt Scam

Your Last Receipt Scam: How It Works

According to a recent Statista report, over 2 billion people purchased goods or services online during the pandemic. In 2020, e-retail sales surpassed 4.2 trillion dollars worldwide. Trillion. Crazy numbers, right? Whether it is Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, or Best Buy, the chances are that you, too, buy things online regularly.

The danger of all this convenient shopping is that people put down their credit card number without diligence. However, one of the most prevalent scams NOW is called Your Last Receipt. It is an upgraded version of a scheme that a few years ago was perpetrated after consumers were purchasing goods in-store.

These days, with the advancement of technology, The Last Receipt Scam is easier to pull and harder to avoid, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's dive in and show you how it works and how to avoid one of the most prevalent email scams.

Targets: Marketplaces, Grocery Stores, Restaurants, and eCommerce Sites

What was the last thing you bought online? Or maybe you have ordered a meal? The scam could be pulled by criminals also using restaurant names, as the food delivery industry has skyrocketed during the pandemic. In a nutshell, every platform that takes payments by credit card (and has you as a client) is the target of this trick.

For the sake of exposing the scam, let's say the victim purchased an item from Amazon or Walmart. The scam works like this. The victim receives an email having the sender's name as the store – Amazon, in this case. You have probably received many other fake Amazon emails before, but this one has a twist. It is different than – for example – the typical “Your Receipt From Apple” scam.

emailed invoice

Look at the screenshot above.

The content reads: “Hope you enjoyed your last shopping experience with our store. Please find your last receipt, attached, and verify the additional fees that are on the invoice. Thank you for shopping with us“.

Fraudulent QR Code or Zip. File

The consumers are aware that they have shopped at that store, so the email doesn't seem unexpected. However, intrigued by the ‘additional fees' reference, many of them hurry to open the ‘receipt,' ignoring seeing the file type. The attachment is a zip. file, that contains a virus, keystroke logger, or malware.

Alternatively, the option given is a fraudulent QR code that leads the consumer to a suspicious website that could make you a victim in no time. QR codes are very popular nowadays since the pandemic started, so scammers take that to their advantage.

A keylogger is malicious software that records all your keystrokes as you type them on your device. Therefore, when you open your bank account or any other platforms that contain your personal information, the keystrokes are stored on the scammer's tape.

By the way, you can check the integrity of every website using the Scam Detector's website validator here.

Emailed Receipts Scam: How To Avoid

Never open attachments from unknown senders. If you purchase anything online, whether on Amazon, eBay or Etsy, the invoice email eventually shows the total amount in the content of the message – not just in an attachment. Even if it says the name of the brand that you're familiar with, carefully inspect the browser to spot any mistakes in the spelling of the website.

Look at the domain name of the sender's email. Is it the store's name dot com, or does it have extra letters and numbers, like bestbuy52a5.com? Also, be careful about the letters ‘o' and ‘i' in every domain name, as their capital letters could be easily confused with 0 and I.

Entirely ignore the zip. files that arrive into your inbox, regardless of where they're coming from. Unless you are expecting one, don't open it. Delete and feel good about it. Legitimate receipts never come as zip. files.

Watch the video below to see the Last Receipt Scam exposed:

How To Report The Fake Bill Scam

Make your family and friends aware of the Last Receipt Scam by sharing it on social media. You can also officially report the scammers and other suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the link below:

Report Scammers To The FTC Here

 

How To Protect Yourself More

If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams on a weekly basis, consider subscribing to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, feel free to use the comments section below to expose other scammers.


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17 thoughts on “Your Last Receipt Scam”

  1. Got a “thank you for your recent purchase” email from Harbor Freight with an attached “receipt”, which I did not open. The store number was correct for the town I live in, but the transaction number came up invalid on the Harbor website when I tried the track my purchase option. They used the nickname I go by, not the name on my credit card, and it looked legit- no misspellings, etc. I did not click on the attachment.

  2. Stephen Desjardins

    I receive receipts for purchases I don’t really remember making, and they come as attachments with the ".iso" suffix. Are these legit or phishing? TIA

  3. Connie M Burkey

    Received an email from Oakley. Never ordered glasses, and non of my accounts were charged. I did not open the PDF attached.

    Oakley
    Shop Mens Shop womens Shop Custom wear

    hero

    TWELVE OAKS OAKLEY STORE
    27886 Novi Rd STE E127
    Novi, MI 48377
    248-305-9389
    08/14/2019 08:16 PM
    Trans #: 152878
    Store #: 080
    Register #: 00001
    Associate: S80ASMIT
    OO9417-0459 HOLBROOK XL MATTE BLACK W/ PRI
    DISPLA: ($15.60)
    $140.40
    1 × $156.00
    Sub-Total
    $140.40
    6% Tax
    $8.42
    Net Amount
    $148.82
    Total
    $148.82
    CreditDebit
    $148.82
    Total Paid
    $148.82
    barcode
    152878

    mktg-golf
    mktg-custom
    mktg-womens

    FB
    FB
    FB
    FB

    Logo
    STORE RETURN & EXCHANGE POLICY

    If you are not satisfied with your Oakley® purchase, we will exchange it or provide you a refund based on your original method of payment within 30 days of the purchase date when accompanied by the original receipt from an Oakley Store, Oakley Vault retail location, or Oakley.com. Product must be in original condition and packaging. All refunds and exchanges must be made in the country of original purchase.

    Oakley reserves the right to request photo identification or deny any return or exchange. Returns from Oakley.com or Oakley Telephone Sales may take an additional 3-5 business days to be refunded from the Customer’s bank. Shipping Fees are non-refundable.

    All purchases are intended for personal use only and are not to be resold. Oakley reserves the right to limit purchases of any product or product category. When a product is purchased as part of a buy one get one offer, if the full price item is returned, the get one item will be adjusted to the original price and the customer will receive the difference.

    This Oakley Store eReceipt has been delivered to the email address that was provided by you at an Oakley Store or Oakley Vault for electronic communications. This eReceipt will allow you to keep a record of all your transactions at our Oakley stores and give you easy access to your receipts should you require proof of purchase at any time. Personal information provided for this eReceipt will not be used for marketing purposes without your consent. View our Privacy Policy

    Copyright ©2019 Oakley, Inc. All Rights Reserved . 1 Icon, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
    Powered By flexEngage

  4. Georgina E Hermsdorf

    Trceived email receipt from double tree hotel international Drive Orlando Florida
    5 night stay last week of seotember.bookex with a discover card,
    1. Don’t have a discover card
    2. Was not in Florida on those dates
    3. Name and address on top of receipt
    George Harns 10100 IDrive Orlando FL
    The Hotels address.
    4. Googled & Facebooked George Harns
    Orlando Florida could not find one.

  5. I have just received an e receipt from Argos for a collect in store purchase. The last 4 numbers of the card used do not match any of mine and the store is in London (I live in Wales). I have had little success so far contacting Argos

  6. I received an order that I did not purchase called [email protected], in the amount of $179.80. The name was EAZ gum 300 con., & the other EAZ oil 600 con. they’re using my old email address & said I would be charged the amount above, but there isn’t an email for them or they didn’t say what card is going to be charged, there isn’t a way to contact them. I didn’t get any info. in my email [email protected]

  7. today I received another yreceipt from Harrogate’s Phase Eight store with an attached pdf file which I did not open. This is the second receipt they have sent me , first one was last year May 12, 2016. Also since then I was receiving newsletters which I had resolved by resolver.co.uk , this does not look like it will ever end, please help. Thank you.

    Logo

    HERE’S YOUR E-RECEIPT

    Thank you for shopping with us, we hope you love your new purchase.

    You will find your e-receipt attached to this email.

    Banner WS 16/17

    Any questions, our Customer Service Team are here to help:

    Call: (+44) 020 7471 4422
    Email: [email protected]

    Share your new look with us on our social channels:
    #dressdestination

    instagram facebook Twitter

    Paperless receipts provided by yReceipts
    Attachments area

  8. Thank you for your payment, please find attached your card receipt and
    invoice.

    Your order has been sent for process.

    Kind Regards

    IRENE FINKLE
    Specialist Products
    0119 330 9693

    (Did not open the attached Zip file..)

  9. Here is what i got lol:

    Dear hello (hello is the first word in my email address lol)!

    According to our data you owe our company a sum of $048,49. There are records saying that you have ordered goods in a total amount of $ 708,49 in the third quarter of 2015.

    Invoice has been paid only partially. The unpaid invoice #14686956600335 is enclosed below for your revision.

    We are writing to you, hoping for understanding and in anticipation of the early repayment of debt.

    Please check out the file and do not hesitate to pay off the debt.

    Otherwise we will have to start a legal action against you.

    Regards,
    Meagan Arias
    758 N Davis St, Jacksonville,
    FL 17323
    Phone nr: 727-989-8279

  10. Apparently I just ordered $6444 worth of catering in Quatar:

    ************************************
    From: "[email protected]"
    To:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    Sent: Tuesday, 3 March 2015, 10:55
    Subject: Purchase Info F796313403

    Thanks for placing order with us now! Your order is now on process.

    Outright Purchase: 6444 AUD

    Please check the file given with this email to view more information about your order.

    ORDER DETAILS

    Purchase Number: NLU621776164
    Order Date: 13:02 02.03.2015
    Customer Email: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    *****************************************

  11. And in yet another version of this Scam I received an email from AquAid in England containing a "receipt" for "my payment".

    How stupid are these Scammers??? AquAid sells bottled water, etc., they’re in England, I’m in western Canada and I’ve ordered bottled water & a cooler to be shipped here. Get real!!!

  12. There is another variation going around right now, so beware!! Apparently it comes from Daewoo, and the subject title is ‘Proforma Invoice’. Here is the email, don’t respond back!

    "Dear Sir,

    Sorry for my late reply. it was due to upgoing maintainance in our company and my email has been changed. as discussed on previous mail, kindly find the attached profoma invoice for the new order.

    Note that attached is the amended proforma invoice and design for our shipment, because price in invoice was not our agreement after the confirmation of the order. Kindly confirm that the stated prices are correct. We expect to receive the shipment of goods within the specified time on this order. Get back to us with your confirmation and your profoma for payment arrangement.

    Any questions, kindly let me know.(sheng yi xing long)means to wish you the very best of business in Chinese.

    Best regards,
    Leong Choo
    Sales Manager.
    Daewoo Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd
    Tel : +82 2 482 8190 or +8

  13. HI my is jimmy email you before i got another scam emial again this time this is what they said and by way calling police this time: this is what it said:

    "Having checked your Social Security Number Through our National Checking Database System, And finding out that you have been never for fraud activity, ACS has decided to give you a chance to take care of this issue outside of the court without you having a report on your credit history and ssn.

    In order to avoid a lawsuit of $3341.86 against you we request you to kindly pay the Court Restitotion Amount which is $964.78 if settle this matter today, you may be entitled to get some percentage of deduction on the restitution amout. You will have tot send us a promissory note in order to hold your case file from being sent to the court house. On a case to case basis, you may be given the solution to pay 45-55% of pending amount in the same month& a 30 days extension to settle the rest ofthe settlement amount as mutually agreed.

    As we were unable to reach you so we sending you this final notification through email. this legal matter will require your cooperation,so kindly get in touch with the department to make a payment freeze down this case." Here is phone number they send 1-315-512-2218

  14. The one I received today was from Nell Cummins, [email protected] with a supposed cart purchase online, no details, with an amount of $344.50, a line at the end not to reply to this emails as it wont be received,but to go to their website, which, of course, is not mentioned anywhere, and an attachment zip with the Sales Receipt! It’s not an email address I have ever heard of.

  15. I received one of these today in my email. The receipt claims I was in a town over 500 miles away at a Best Buy yesterday and made some purchases.
    Funny but I could have sworn I was at work yesterday and not at Best Buy.
    Of course I knew better than to click on anything within the letter or receipt.
    Scammers are everywhere and need to be taken care of in the most awful way.

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