• Sublime Core Feed

Description

Detects messages containing references to W-8BEN tax forms, commonly used in tax-related fraud schemes targeting individuals and businesses.

References

No references.

Sublime Security
Created Feb 23rd, 2026 • Last updated Feb 23rd, 2026
Source
type.inbound
and (
  // few links
  0 < length(body.links) < 20
  and any(body.links, network.whois(.href_url.domain).days_old <= 60)
  // fewer unique root domain links
  and length(distinct(body.links, .href_url.domain.root_domain)) < 10
  // sender domain matches no body domains
  and all(body.links,
          .href_url.domain.root_domain != sender.email.domain.root_domain
  )
)

// sender domain and return path are the same
and (sender.email.domain.root_domain == headers.return_path.domain.domain)
and not (sender.email.domain.root_domain != headers.return_path.domain.domain)
and (
  regex.icontains(subject.subject, ".*Foreign Tax*")
  or regex.icontains(subject.subject, ".*W-8BEN*")
)
// or any([body.current_thread.text, body.html.display_text, body.plain.raw],
and any([body.current_thread.text],
        regex.icontains(.,
                        'tax form',
                        'W-8BEN',
                        'Foreign Tax',
                        'tax return',
                        'tax preparation',
                        'tax documentation',
                        'regulatory',
                        'withholding',
                        'approve',
                        'non-US tax',
                        'treaty',
                        'Renew Documentation',
                        'Dear Client'
        )
)

// Registrant domain registered to China
and (
  any(body.links,
      network.whois(.href_url.domain).registrant_country_code =~ "CN"
  )
  or any(body.links,
         strings.icontains(network.whois(.href_url.domain).registrant_country,
                           "china"
         )
  )
)

// Alibaba Cloud nameservers
and all(network.whois(sender.email.domain).name_servers,
        .root_domain == "hichina.com"
)
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