Docusign email scams use phishing tactics to target individuals and organizations. Cybercriminals may copy Docusign branding or misuse its platform to make fraudulent messages appear legitimate. These scams can expose login credentials, financial information, personal data, and company systems.
You should look out for warning signs like:
- Suspicious Attachments
- Unexpected Invoices
- Fake Links
- QR Codes
- Pop-Up Boxes
- Urgent Messages
- Fraudulent Internal Communications
- Spoofed Sender Addresses
- Generic Greetings
- Spelling & Grammar Mistakes
What are Docusign Email Scams?
Docusign email scams are fraudulent emails that appear to be legitimate e-communications. However, these emails are phishing attacks. They’re designed to steal your information or hack into companies’ systems.
According to Docusign, common email scams include fake blurred documents, exploiting account activation and billing notifications, impersonating trusted brands, and callback scams. It’s important to recognize these fraudulent activities and report them immediately.
How to Spot a Docusign Email Scam
Avoid being the victim of cybercrime by remaining aware of scams. Businesses and employees should also stay vigilant for social engineering tactics. Let’s explore how to spot a Docusign email scam and the 10 warning signs to look out for.
Warning Sign #1: Suspicious Attachments
Before you open that email attachment, it’s important to review it. Cybercriminals use Docusign email attachments to launch phishing campaigns.
A sender can add attachments to an email. However, those attachments are typically complete PDF documents. A real Docusign attachment should also require a unique security code to access. Docusign does not send signature request notifications with active external file attachments. Docusign attachments will also never be formatted as .zip, HTML, or screensaver files.
Individuals and organizations may also receive fake Docusign envelopes that they are instructed to open and then click through to view a blurred document. However, this is a phishing scam that cybercriminals use to gain access to your device, data, and personal information.
These envelopes may contain malicious documents or bogus financial requests, payment receipts, or disbursement information. Attackers may even impersonate government offices and municipalities through a phony envelope attachment to trick you into providing personal or financial information. It is important to note that Docusign will never require users to download software to view blurred files.
Warning Sign #2: Unexpected Invoices & Refunds
Cybercriminals may send employees, businesses, and individuals at large unexpected invoices or refunds. Scammers may pose as reputable companies like PayPal, Norton, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft, and more. They use invoices to fool you into sending money or clicking on a malicious link to gain access to secure information.
Examples of fake invoices include transactions that look to be from legitimate service providers, business partners, suppliers, or colleagues. They also include notices to approve a payment, process financial requests, update a payment, renew a subscription, or a purchase confirmation.
Fraudsters could also ask you to take action on a bogus invoice or remittance advice by calling a phone number to address the invoice. This scheme deceives you into providing your bank details or credit card information.
In the reverse, attackers may send false refund notices. These refund notices can appear to be from trusted companies that you or your organization may use. Attackers can claim you are owed a refund and prompt you to click on a phishing link, cancel a sham payment, or authorize a deceptive refund hold.
Warning Sign #3: Fake Links
Always verify email links before you click on them. Scammers use fake links in Docusign emails that redirect users to phishing sites. These malicious URLs may seem like real account activation, registration, login, or billing notification links. However, they are fraudulent and can be used to steal organizations’ data, login credentials, or even your identity.
Cybercriminals may also provide links that redirect you to legitimate websites from trusted brands, where you are then prompted to grant permissions to another third-party site or software. The additional third-party website or software often allows scammers to access your information and impersonate you through OAuth Consent Phishing.
Docusign will never send links to websites outside of docusign.com or account.docusign.com. You should never click on an unsolicited link or a link from an unknown sender. Instead, you can hover over a link to review it. If the URL does not match what you would expect to see, don’t click on it.
Warning Sign #4: QR Codes
Never scan or click on QR codes from unsolicited emails. Cybercriminals use QR codes in quishing attacks to redirect you to sites that harvest your credentials or install malware on your device.
These malicious QR codes can also be sent via Docusign envelopes. Attackers may impersonate notable financial institutions, HR and Payroll departments, or government agencies to lure you into the scam. It’s also important to note that it is difficult to see a preview of the destination of a QR code, further increasing fraud risk.
Warning Sign #5: Pop-Up Boxes
Pop-up boxes that request login credentials, financial information, or software downloads are a major warning sign. Fraudsters use pop-up boxes to lure you into providing sensitive data. Remember that Docusign will never send you a pop-up box or embed one in an email to your organization.
Warning Sign #6: Urgent Requests
It’s important to never react immediately to emails that claim you must act now. Scammers create a false sense of urgency to trick you into reacting fast without critically reviewing details.
They may prompt you to provide your signature immediately or even threaten you with legal implications. Following through with these deceptive urgent requests puts businesses and individuals at risk of data breaches and allows scammers to get their hands on your personal information.
If you see urgent language like “Immediate Action Required”, notices with a specific number of days you have left to review or accept terms, suspicious language about your policy expiring, threats about your account being shut down, or urgent security alerts, do not act right away.
Scammers may also prey on businesses and employees to act fast during periods like open enrollment and tax season. An unexpected request should be verified before you respond.
Warning Sign #7: Fraudulent Internal Communications
Fraudsters can learn your company’s internal structure and impersonate internal teams and departments. Specifically, HR, Payroll, and Procurement departments are often impersonated.
Cybercriminals may send employees false employment documents or contracts to trick targets into providing their Social Security number, sensitive company data, or financial information. As a member of an organization, if you notice any of these activities, you should report the email to your IT or Security department.
Warning Sign #8: Spoofed Sender Addresses
Suspicious sender addresses may look real at first glance. However, fraudsters use spoofed sender addresses that appear like genuine Docusign email addresses or messages from the platform.
Docusign will only send you emails from an @docusign.com or @docusign.net email address. However, a familiar domain does not guarantee that the request is safe because criminals may misuse legitimate accounts or platform features. Look out for misspellings, extra characters, and always verify unexpected documents through a separate, trusted channel.
Warning Sign #9: Generic Greetings
A generic or awkward greeting can be a warning sign, especially when combined with an unexpected request. Watch out for greetings like “Hello User” or “Dear Customer” to help protect yourself from fraudulent activity.
Warning Sign #10: Grammar and Spelling Mistakes
Reputable companies proofread and spellcheck their communications. However, legitimate email communications may sometimes contain spelling and grammar mistakes, and polished writing does not guarantee that a message is real. So, it’s important to always remain watchful to protect yourself and your organization.
If you receive an email communication from Docusign with noticeable or frequent spelling and grammar mistakes, then it could be a warning sign of fraud. Cybercriminals often include typos or poor grammar when reaching out to targets. Stay alert and use the appropriate channels to confirm an email is authentic.
Protect Your Customers, Data, and Business From More Than Phishing
Knowing how to spot a Docusign email scam is an important first step, but protecting yourself and your organization takes more than recognizing red flags. It takes trained people, clear processes, strong data safeguards, and a compliance-first culture.
For businesses managing sensitive customer interactions, CBE Companies provides scalable customer experience and accounts receivable support built for complex and highly regulated environments. CBE holds PCI Level 1 certification, SOC 2 Type II reports, and ISO 27001 certification to help organizations reduce operational burden while protecting trust.
Start a conversation with CBE Companies to learn how a compliance-first partner can support your organization.
Common Questions About Docusign Email Scams
Look for warning signs such as an unusual attachment, unexpected invoice or request, unfamiliar link, QR code, pop-up box, urgent language, questionable sender address, or a request for sensitive information. One warning sign does not always mean an email is fake. When something feels suspicious, avoid clicking links or opening attachments and verify the request through a trusted source. CBE Companies helps organizations in complex and highly regulated industries manage customer interactions and accounts receivable operations with strong compliance and security controls. CBE combines trained people, disciplined processes, and technology to help reduce operational risk while delivering consistent customer experiences. CBE Companies holds PCI Level 1 certification, SOC 2 Type II reports, and ISO 27001 certification. Do not click links, open unexpected attachments, scan QR codes, or provide personal or financial information. Instead, verify the request using contact information or a website you already know is legitimate. If you receive the message at work, report it to your IT or security team and follow your organization’s security procedures.