Fake Companies House Emails Contain Malware
The original site is no longer online; links go to the Internet Archive copy.
The claim
This message has been generated in response to the company complaint
submitted to Companies House WebFiling service.
(CC01) Company Complaint for the above company was accepted on 06/09/2013.
The submission number is NIMXA1ZGK638SOL
Please quote this number in any communications with Companies House.
All WebFiled documents are available to view / download for 10 days
after their original submission. However it is not possible to view
copies of accounts that were downloaded as templates.
Not yet filing your accounts online? See how easy it is…
Note: reference to company may also include Limited Liability Partnership(s).
Thank you for using the Companies House WebFiling service.
Service Desk tel +44 (0)303 1234 500 or email enquiries@ companieshouse.gov.uk
Note: This email was sent from a notification-only email address
which cannot accept incoming email. Please do not reply directly to this message.
What the fact-checkers found
This story was first published on September 11, 2013
The name of UK Government department Companies House has repeatedly been used in malware campaigns in recent years.
Typically, the emails, which purport to be from Companies House, are claiming that a company complaint has been levelled against the recipient.
The emails claim that recipients can view more details by opening an attached file. However, opening the attached file can install malware on the user’s computer.
Companies House has published the following warning about the malware attack:
We’re aware that some customers have received suspicious emails about company complaints. These emails are not from us.
The warning advises recipients not to open any attachments in the emails.
These campaigns are reminiscent of earlier malware attacks that claimed that the Better Business Bureau had received a complaint about the recipient. Again, attachments with the emails contained malware.
Got a similar message?
Paste it into the detector and see whether it matches a known hoax.
Check a similar message