Those official-looking 'delivery failure' messages flooding your Gmail inbox aren't system glitches—they're sophisticated traps designed to steal your money and personal information.
And if you're over 60, you're squarely in the scammers' crosshairs.
Australian seniors aged 65 and over reported the highest losses of any age group at $99.6 million in 2024, making them prime targets for increasingly clever email scams like the mailer daemon trick that's currently doing the rounds.
In this article
What's really happening with these 'failed delivery' messages
When you receive a message claiming to be from '[email protected]' about a delivery failure, your first instinct might be to investigate. That's exactly what scammers are counting on.
Here's how the con works: Scammers send out bulk spam using forged sender addresses, and when recipient servers bounce these messages back, they're sent to the forged address—which could be yours. It's called 'backscatter spam,' and it's designed to make you think there's a problem with your email account that needs immediate attention.
The fake delivery notification typically includes a text box stating something like 'Address not found: Your message wasn't delivered to [your handle]@google.com because the address couldn't be found.' Notice the domain discrepancy—your actual Gmail address ends in @Gmail.com, not @google.com. But in the stress of thinking something's wrong with your email, this detail can easily slip by.
'Scammers are sophisticated and highly motivated criminals. We need to remain vigilant and pivot our defences'
Why Australian seniors are bearing the brunt
The numbers paint a concerning picture. While losses for all other age groups decreased in 2023, losses for people over 65 increased by 13.3 per cent to $120 million. This isn't coincidence—it's calculated targeting.
Scammers are deliberately preying on seniors and retirees looking for investment opportunities, using sophisticated psychology alongside their technical tricks. The average phishing scam victim in recent data was a woman 65 or older living in NSW who received a text message from a scammer impersonating her bank, her child or a road toll company.
The mailer daemon scam fits this pattern perfectly. It creates anxiety about a technical problem with your email, then offers a simple solution via a clickable link. For many seniors who rely heavily on email to stay connected with family and manage important accounts, the fear of missing crucial messages can override caution.
Red flags that scream 'scam'
Sender shows [email protected] but mentions @google.com addresses
Urgent language demanding immediate action
Suspicious attachments with names like 'diet tips' or 'investment opportunities'
Links that don't match legitimate Google support pages
Multiple similar messages arriving in quick succession
The hidden attachments you never asked for
One particularly nasty aspect of this scam involves attachments. Users report these emails often contain attached files 'about something attractive, like diets and wines,' and the attachment icons don't appear until you open the email. This delayed appearance is designed to pique curiosity and encourage downloads.
These attachments can install malware on your device or redirect you to fake login pages designed to steal your credentials. Even clicking on images within the email can be dangerous.
How this fits the broader scam landscape
Gmail is working hard to protect inboxes from scams, especially during the holiday season, but scammers are adapting faster than ever. The mailer daemon trick is just one weapon in an increasingly sophisticated arsenal.
Social media has become the most reported contact method leading to financial loss, with 7,724 reports and overall losses of $69.5 million in 2024. Phone scams remain the costliest overall, but email-based attacks like the mailer daemon scam are perfect for the preliminary grooming phase.
What makes this particularly insidious is how it exploits the legitimate mailer daemon system. Mailer-daemon is a legitimate program that manages email delivery and sends automated notifications when messages bounce, but it can be co-opted relatively easily to trick people into clicking malicious links.
Your comprehensive protection plan
Don't just ignore and delete—take active steps to protect yourself:
Immediate actions:
- Never click links or download attachments from unsolicited mailer daemon messages
- Mark these emails as spam to help Gmail's filters learn
- Check the full sender address carefully—legitimate bounce messages won't come from googlemail.com for Gmail accounts
Strengthen your defences:
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Google account if you haven't already
- Use a strong, unique password for your email account
- Regularly review your account's security settings and recent activity
- Consider using Gmail's confidential mode for sensitive emails
Verify before you trust:
If you're genuinely concerned about email delivery issues, log into your Gmail account directly (never through email links) and check your sent folder. You can also contact recipients through alternative means to confirm they received your messages.
Essential scam protection steps
- Enable two-factor authentication immediately
- Never click links in unexpected 'system' emails
- When in doubt, access accounts directly, not through email links
- Report suspicious emails to help protect others
- Trust your instincts—if it feels wrong, it probably is
What to do if you've already fallen for it
Don't panic, but do act quickly:
- Secure your accounts immediately: Change your email password and any other accounts that use the same credentials
- Contact your bank: Call your bank, online payment platform or financial institution immediately and inform them that you suspect your account has been compromised
- Run security scans: Check your devices for malware using updated antivirus software
- Report the incident: Contact Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au and your local police if you've lost money
- Monitor your accounts: Keep a close eye on all financial and email accounts for unusual activity
Remember the three-step approach: STOP—don't give money or information if unsure. CHECK—ask yourself if the message or call is fake and contact the business independently. PROTECT—act quickly if something feels wrong.
The bigger picture: staying ahead of the scammers
The good news? Overall scam losses fell by 25.9 per cent to $2 billion in 2024, showing that protection efforts by government, industry and community organisations are working. The bad news? Scammers aren't giving up—they're getting more sophisticated.
Understanding scams like the mailer daemon trick is your best defence. These criminals rely on confusion, urgency, and trust in familiar systems. By knowing their tactics, you can spot the red flags before it's too late.
Remember, there's no shame in being targeted by these scams. Scammers are financial criminals who use sophisticated technology and psychology to rob Australians of their money and personal information. The sophistication isn't a reflection of your gullibility—it's evidence of how far these criminals will go.
What This Means For You
Have you encountered suspicious mailer daemon messages recently? We'd love to hear about your experiences and any additional warning signs you've spotted. Your insights could help protect fellow readers from these costly tricks.
Original Article
https://au.lifehacker.com/security/...livery-status-notification-is-probably-a-scam
Scams in Australia August 2025: the latest cybercrime trends to be aware of | TechRadar
Cited text: Remember: if somebody you know is asking for cash or sensitive information, get in touch with them directly outside of the communications you’re havin...
Excerpt: Australian seniors aged 65 and over reported the highest losses of any age group at $99.6 million in 2024
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/scams-in-australia
Treacherous cyber scams: Phishers disguise themselves as mailer daemons—Retarus Corporate Blog—EN
Cited text:
Excerpt: Scammers send out bulk spam using forged sender addresses, and when recipient servers bounce these messages back, they're sent to the forged address—which could be yours
https://www.retarus.com/blog/en/tre...ishers-disguise-themselves-as-mailer-daemons/
Australians better protected as reported scam losses fell by almost 26 per cent | National Anti-Scam Centre
Cited text: We need to remain vigilant and pivot our defences to maintain this downward trajectory,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.Investment scams resulte...
Excerpt: While losses for all other age groups decreased in 2023, losses for people over 65 increased by 13.3 per cent to $120 million
https://www.nasc.gov.au/news/austra...ported-scam-losses-fell-by-almost-26-per-cent
Australians better protected as reported scam losses fell by almost 26 per cent | National Anti-Scam Centre
Cited text: Those aged 65 and over continue to report the highest losses of any aged group at $99.6 million in 2024, a 17.6 per cent drop since 2023.
Excerpt: Scammers are deliberately preying on seniors and retirees looking for investment opportunities
https://www.nasc.gov.au/news/austra...ported-scam-losses-fell-by-almost-26-per-cent
Rising scam threat for seniors—National Seniors Australia
Cited text: “Three of the ‘big 4’ banks have banned Binance transactions, and ANZ has placed a delay on payments to give them time to investigate the legitimacy o...
Excerpt: The average phishing scam victim in recent data was a woman 65 or older living in NSW who received a text message from a scammer impersonating her bank, her child or a road toll company
https://nationalseniors.com.au/members/our-generation/winter-2024/rising-scam-threat-for-seniors
Treacherous cyber scams: Phishers disguise themselves as mailer daemons—Retarus Corporate Blog—EN
Cited text: The text of the message, as is typical for these types of phishing emails, exerts pressure on the reader to take action.
Excerpt: Users report these emails often contain attached files 'about something attractive, like diets and wines,' and the attachment icons don't appear until you open the email
https://www.retarus.com/blog/en/tre...ishers-disguise-themselves-as-mailer-daemons/
Treacherous cyber scams: Phishers disguise themselves as mailer daemons—Retarus Corporate Blog—EN
Cited text: Of course, hiding behind the link is not the expected email folder, but a phishing site with its sights set on committing fraud.
Excerpt: Users report these emails often contain attached files 'about something attractive, like diets and wines,' and the attachment icons don't appear until you open the email
https://www.retarus.com/blog/en/tre...ishers-disguise-themselves-as-mailer-daemons/
Scam statistics | Scamwatch
Cited text:
Excerpt: Gmail is working hard to protect inboxes from scams, especially during the holiday season
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/research-and-resources/scam-statistics
Scams in Australia August 2025: the latest cybercrime trends to be aware of | TechRadar
Cited text: While scammers that are threatening and extorting a person may fall under the impersonation scams category, there’s also space to talk about scammers ...
Excerpt: Social media has become the most reported contact method leading to financial loss, with 7,724 reports and overall losses of $69.5 million in 2024
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/scams-in-australia
[email protected]—Gmail Community
Cited text:
Excerpt: Mailer-daemon is a legitimate program that manages email delivery and sends automated notifications when messages bounce, but it can be co-opted relatively easily to trick people into clicking malicious links
https://support.google.com/mail/thread/164809851/mailer-daemon-googlemail-com?hl=en
Older Australians most affected by scams
Cited text:
Excerpt: Call your bank, online payment platform or financial institution immediately and inform them that you suspect your account has been compromised
https://www.choice.com.au/health-an...t/articles/scams-affecting-senior-australians
Scams in Australia August 2025: the latest cybercrime trends to be aware of | TechRadar
Cited text:
Excerpt: Remember the three-step approach: STOP—don't give money or information if unsure.
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/scams-in-australia
Scams in Australia August 2025: the latest cybercrime trends to be aware of | TechRadar
Cited text: Moving on and come December, Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 will come into effect, requiring folks to verify...
Excerpt: Overall scam losses fell by 25.9 per cent to $2 billion in 2024, showing that protection efforts by government, industry and community organisations are working
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/scams-in-australia
Australians better protected as reported scam losses fell by almost 26 per cent | National Anti-Scam Centre
Cited text: STOP.
Excerpt: Scammers are financial criminals who use sophisticated technology and psychology to rob Australians of their money and personal information
https://www.nasc.gov.au/news/austra...ported-scam-losses-fell-by-almost-26-per-cent
Seniors Discount Club
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