Hacker Who Cracked Your Email And Device Email Scam

What is "Hacker who cracked your email and device Email Scam"?

Like many other spam email campaigns of this type, "Hacker who cracked your email and device Email Scam" is designed to blackmail people. Cyber criminals send emails stating that your computer has been infected, hacked etc. In this case, they claim that they have installed a remote access tool and taken a humiliating photo of the victim.

If the ransom demands are not met, they state that they will distribute this photo by sending it to all of the victim's contacts. If you have received this email (or similar), do not worry - it is just a scam used to trick people into paying for photos/videos or other media that does not exist.

Cyber criminals send this email to thousands of people and claim that they have embarrassing photos of the recipients. They also claim that they have cracked an email account and device, and that they now have own an email account password.

Furthermore, they state that they have placed some malicious code within the operating system that has recorded contacts and internet browsing history, and has also installed a Trojan. These cyber criminals claim that they know about a 'shocking website' (probably, pornography) that the user has supposedly visited.

They go on to state that they have taken a photo of the victim whilst viewing that particular website. According to the email, they acquired this photo using remote access control program and the user's webcam. To prevent this photo from being sent to friends, colleagues, and so on, victims are encouraged to pay a ransom of $892 in Bitcoins.

They warn that users have 48 hours to pay the ransom, otherwise they will distribute the photo and block the device. As mentioned in the introduction, this is merely a scam and these claims are false. These people do not have a compromising photo of you and have not hacked your computer, or installed malware. You and your system are safe. Simply ignore these emails.

Many scammers (cyber criminals) use spam campaigns to threaten people and make ransom demands. Some examples of other similar campaigns are Remote Control Desktop With A Key Logger and We Have Installed One RAT Software.

Some spam email campaigns do not make ransom demands, but trick users into opening malicious attachments (invoices, fake bills, and so on). These attachments often are Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, or other files). If you receive such an email, do not open the attached document.

Once opened, these attachments download and install high-risk viruses, such as TrickBot, Adwind, FormBook, or others. They often cause problems relating to privacy and browsing safety. They sometimes record sensitive data, such banking details, passwords, logins, and so on.

Some of these viruses might open "backdoors" causing even more infections, such as ransomware-type viruses. Infection with these viruses can lead to privacy issues, data loss, or even financial loss.

We receive a great deal of feedback from concerned users regarding this scam email. Here is the most popular question that we receive:

Q: Hi pcrisk.com team, I received an email stating that my computer was hacked and they have a video of me. Now they are asking for a ransom in Bitcoins. I think this must be true because they listed my real name and password in the email. What should I do?

A: Do not worry about this email. Neither hackers nor cyber criminals have infiltrated/hacked your computer and there is no video of you watching pornography. Simply ignore the message and do not send any Bitcoins. Your email, name, and password was probably stolen from a compromised website such as  Yahoo (these website breaches are common). If you are concerned, you can check if your accounts have been compromised by visiting the haveibeenpwned website.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Many spam email campaigns proliferate malicious attachments, which are usually .doc, .ppt, .xls, and other Microsoft Office suite documents. Once these attachments are opened, they ask users to enable macro commands. Enabling these commands will execute scripts that download and install malware.

Note, however, that these attachments are only capable of proliferating infections if the files are opened using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, and so on. If the attachments are opened using applications other than MS Office, the malicious files will not be downloaded or installed. These spam campaigns usually target Windows users, and thus other platforms are safe.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be careful when you download, install, and update software, and when you open email attachments. If you receive an email from an unknown sender that contains an irrelevant attachment, do not open it. Study each email received and open attachments only when you are sure that they are safe. Many rogue applications are  distributed using fake updaters.

These tools should be not used. You are advised to use implemented functions or tools provided by the official developer only. Furthermore, these rogue apps are often distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", which is used to install deceptive (untrustworthy, potentially unwanted) applications with regular software.

These apps are hidden in "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar options or settings. Do not use third party software downloaders (or other such tools), since these are regularly monetized by promoting rogue applications using the same "bundling" method.

Microsoft Office products with versions later than 2010 have a "Protected View" mode, which prevents downloaded files (such as attachments) from downloading malware.

Earlier versions do not have this mode, and thus you should avoid them. Finally, have a reputable anti-virus or/and anti-spyware software installed and enabled at all times. If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Hacker who cracked your email and device Email Scam" email message:

Subject: password (user's password) for (user's email) is compromised
Hello!
I'm a hacker who cracked your email and device a few months ago.
You entered a password on one of the sites you visited, and I intercepted it.
This is your password from [user's email] on moment of hack: [user's password]
Of course you can will change it, or already changed it.
But it doesn't matter, my malware updated it every time.
Do not try to contact me or find me, it is impossible, since I sent you an email from your account.
Through your email, I uploaded malicious code to your Operation System.
I saved all of your contacts with friends, colleagues, relatives and a complete history of visits to the Internet resources.
Also I installed a Trojan on your device and long tome spying for you.
You are not my only victim, I usually lock computers and ask for a ransom.
But I was struck by the sites of intimate content that you often visit.
I am in shock of your fantasies! I've never seen anything like this!
So, when you had fun on piquant sites (you know what I mean!)
I made screenshot with using my program from your camera of yours device.
After that, I combined them to the content of the currently viewed site.
There will be laughter when I send these photos to your contacts!
BUT I'm sure you don't want it.
Therefore, I expect payment from you for my silence.
I think $892 is an acceptable price for it!
Pay with Bitcoin.
My BTC wallet: 1JTtwbvmM7ymByxPYCByVYCwasjH49J3Vj, 1BzdZ9uoPpAP48wNk3ceijz6eMVLDcvJQi, 1DVU5Q2HQ4srFNSSaWBrVNMtL4pvBkfP5w, 14JLSAk9TKR6hVFswC6oRPoeAcydSecLFX, 1LqtqmaeXHT1fhtUfjJ5tyUXJ3Vfkm2KDd, 18ADezP8vFRVLM74GXtTbwuAKEJG1pCM1F, 17WdpggNyw35v4iQxf69gGu2ArzHFvBTXA, 1DufmCAkNxya6jDopRKrh5bMHqarTmdEkj, 1NhLkcK6G3WrT2HVAMvck8ddDajDxtB2B6, 19kh7yKymyqjXgk7Fys5BmMifZ4tQJ2qgB, 1Jd7QFxkCJa3zxf1zvkAoTneCvFoQn6hfQ, 1HZiF7eaPYALcmjoRaA14DDoMfEMt2vfdx, 1KaRJEP6TxLnB11bVMYq8VCaSbwDxxN5UH, 1KvfFFdrTPLT7Pxqe8afSB1ebBJ9SVxwDF
If you do not know how to do this - enter into Google "how to transfer money to a bitcoin wallet". It is not difficult.
After receiving the specified amount, all your data will be immediately destroyed automatically. My virus will also remove itself from your operating system.
My Trojan have auto alert, after this email is read, I will be know it!
I give you 2 days (48 hours) to make a payment.
If this does not happen - all your contacts will get crazy shots from your dark secret life!
And so that you do not obstruct, your device will be blocked (also after 48 hours)
Do not be silly!
Police or friends won't help you for sure ...
p.s. I can give you advice for the future. Do not enter your passwords on unsafe sites.
I hope for your prudence.
Farewell.

Second variant of "Hacker who cracked your email and device Email Scam" letter:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: This account has been hacked! Change your password right now!

 

You may not know me and you are probably wondering why you are getting this e mail, right?
I'm a hacker who cracked your devices a few months ago.
I sent you an email from YOUR hacked account.
I setup a malware on the adult vids (porno) web-site and guess what, you visited this site to have fun (you know what I mean).
While you were watching videos, your internet browser started out functioning as a RDP (Remote Control) having a keylogger which gave me accessibility to your screen and web cam.
after that, my software program obtained all of your contacts and files.
You entered a passwords on the websites you visited, and I intercepted it.
Of course you can will change it, or already changed it.
But it doesn't matter, my malware updated it every time.
What did I do?
I created a double-screen video. 1st part shows the video you were watching (you've got a good taste haha . . .), and 2nd part shows the recording of your web cam.
Do not try to find and destroy my virus! (All your data is already uploaded to a remote server)
ñ Do not try to contact with me
ñ Various security services will not help you; formatting a disk or destroying a device will not help either, since your data is already on a remote server.
I guarantee you that I will not disturb you again after payment, as you are not my single victim. This is a hacker code of honor.
Donít be mad at me, everyone has their own work.
exactly what should you do?
Well, in my opinion, $1000 (USD) is a fair price for our little secret. You'll make the payment by Bitcoin (if you do not know this, search "how to buy bitcoin" in Google).
My Bitcoin wallet Address:
1AyRZviUxoBaCU1pJM5m7C1V2LdhPYiRcB, 19Lz7dV8spmf7TVxvxDPPqEy5yAzZSUrdW, 171ho8fzPMCwS2gPADGfLA7Hi2PA7hMRPR, 14F5vwcYFiVf2UeHzUxafvUMUjPkG1tWPw, 1Ne6TvghEwFsYjsespzNbfdsK2ThZNx6ey, 1pS26JuxhqPqXkCb6GTTXySdt1LfLt86x, 16Tuj17tKTEc7fxLVBBDdKbiVQcPhGnmPf, 17oYt4uLmK7HJyFSm23Ts5pKMFqZ9WsAQS, 1Dtx6nRtE1BYVNmmrz4CHF3N37H2Fzezmb, 1A8ZigYnhkTVLwB2TE9ozbUE1ZhA6VMH3p, 1LzaWYgo4QGEKbCCLP8uanxdn47K3NnXw6, 1N3rvZCMcAYzBv5JsrFmogwXbUoX97VNZ3, 1Pt23DXKcr2SXcHPAWS4QXuNMZzJDQ9nQb
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)
Important:
You have 48 hour in order to make the payment. (I've a facebook pixel in this mail, and at this moment I know that you have read through this email message).
To track the reading of a message and the actions in it, I use the facebook pixel.
Thanks to them. (Everything that is used for the authorities can help us.)
If I do not get the BitCoins, I will certainly send out your video recording to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers, and so on. Having said that, if I receive the payment, I'll destroy the video immidiately.
If you need evidence, reply with "Yes!" and I will certainly send out your video recording to your 6 contacts. It is a non-negotiable offer, that being said don't waste my personal time and yours by responding to this message.

Third variant of "Hacker who cracked your email and device" spam email:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: info : *******

******* is one of your pass. Lets get directly to point. No-one has compensated me to investigate about you. You don't know me and you are most likely wondering why you are getting this mail?
actually, i setup a malware on the adult streaming (sex sites) site and you know what, you visited this web site to experience fun (you know what i mean). When you were viewing videos, your browser started out working as a RDP that has a keylogger which provided me accessibility to your display and also webcam. Just after that, my software program obtained your complete contacts from your Messenger, FB, and emailaccount. Next i made a double video. 1st part displays the video you were watching (you've got a nice taste hahah), and second part displays the recording of your web cam, & its u.
You get 2 options. Shall we look at each one of these solutions in details:
Very first solution is to dismiss this email message. in this instance, i most certainly will send your actual video recording to each of your your personal contacts and thus just consider about the shame you feel. Not to forget if you are in a romance, exactly how it will eventually affect?
Second choice is to pay me $989. We will think of it as a donation. in this situation, i will immediately eliminate your video. You can continue on with your daily life like this never happened and you never will hear back again from me.
You will make the payment via Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search 'how to buy bitcoin' in Google).
BTC address: 1AVSEj7UKjadhWCjcPcC1mbS5VVv89Hvgb, 1Uva3DxJ8F5E6UQHPpsNoWMNCqFCrkBoC, 19HEBQLMbPMS5sq8pjr9xRwXHdTMbzTDS5, 1KjosMp7cWLAgvBxQTn9dm8dv7mgfAwbqE, 1GBDFRz9UnafBzz76G7ESYXVtWF4S2D8vB, 18cFCmESfC6PKn8LL6HPbtK2EWLLdsryXp, 1PTTcYCSmThKaqRKxxxsgmEcPWTFiyevBF, 1AkWAPUBwTWenUJFeETKGwKkaGAs2ijC2w
[CaSe sensitive copy and paste it]
if you may be curious about going to the law, look, this e mail cannot be traced back to me. I have dealt with my steps. i am also not looking to charge you very much, i just want to be rewarded. in order to%} make the paymen if i don't get the bitcoin, i will, no doubt send out your video recording to all of your contacts including close relatives, co-workers, and so on. However, if i receive the payment, i will destroy the video right away. If you want to have proof, reply with Yup then i will send your video recording to your 5 contacts. This is a non:negotiable offer, and so please don't waste my personal time & yours by responding to this message.

Another variant of "Hacker who cracked your email and device" spam email. In order to bypass spam filters cyber criminals started adding several spaces between each word. The Bitcoin wallet address they provide this time is "12xk9Y83nFJZm1fFFC2vswKz3WQV1QR2w7":

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Types of malicious emails:

If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file from a suspicious email, run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. If you only received the email and didn't engage with it, you don't need to scan anything - just identify the scam and delete it. The full procedure below covers both situations and what to do if you already clicked, replied, or sent money.

Credential theft Phishing emails

Fake login pages disguised as PayPal, Microsoft, Apple, banks, or social networks. The email pushes a link to a near-perfect copy of the real login screen. The moment you type your username and password, the attacker has them.

Common subject lines

• "Action required: confirm your account"
• "Your password expires today"
• "Unusual sign-in attempt detected"
• "Verify your billing information"

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

Trojans hidden inside fake invoices, faxes, shipping confirmations, or Office documents. Opening the attachment runs the payload and infects the system - often with an info-stealer or remote-access trojan.

Common subject lines

• "Invoice INV-2026-XXXX attached"
• "Fax received - 3 pages"
• "Your shipping document is ready"
• "Voicemail from +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX"

Extortion Sextortion emails

Fake claims of webcam recordings demanding cryptocurrency. Almost always a bluff: the attacker pulls a real password from an old data breach to make the threat look credible, then claims to have video of you. They have no recording and no access.

Common subject lines

• "I know your password is XXXX"
• "Your account has been hacked"
• "I have recorded you - 48 hours to pay"
• "You have been compromised"

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

"Your subscription was renewed for $499 - call to cancel." Norton, McAfee, Geek Squad, PayPal, and Wells Fargo variants are all common. There's no real subscription. The phone number in the email connects directly to the scammer, who walks you through "refunding" yourself - which is actually them stealing money from your bank.

Common subject lines

• "Norton subscription auto-renewed - $499.99"
• "McAfee Total Protection invoice"
• "Geek Squad order confirmation"
• "Your PayPal payment is being processed"

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

"Your account will be deleted in 24 hours - verify now." The artificial deadline is the whole point: it pressures you to click before checking details. The "verify" link goes to a phishing page styled to look like the real provider.

Common subject lines

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Suspicious activity detected - verify now"
• "Final warning: account closure"
• "Action required to keep your account active"

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

Fake DHL, USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking, customs fees, or "package undeliverable" notices. Targets anyone expecting a parcel - the timing alone catches many people. The link hides either phishing (asking for card details to "release" the package) or a malware download.

Common subject lines

• "Your DHL package is held at customs"
• "USPS - delivery attempt failed"
• "FedEx tracking update - action required"
• "Pay $2.99 redelivery fee to release your parcel"

Remote access Tech support scams

Fake Microsoft, Apple, or "Windows Defender" security alerts pushing a phone number. Real Microsoft and Apple never email a phone number to call. The number connects you to a scammer who asks for remote access to "fix" the imaginary problem and then demands payment.

Common subject lines

• "Microsoft Defender expired - renew now"
• "Apple ID security alert"
• "Critical: virus detected on your PC"
• "Windows license expired - call now"

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

Inheritance, lottery wins, romance, or business deals that ask for a small fee to release a much larger sum. The classic "Nigerian prince" 419 family of frauds. Once you pay the first fee, more fees appear (taxes, lawyer, transfer charges) until you stop paying. The promised money never exists.

Common subject lines

• "Inheritance from a relative you didn't know about"
• "You won the international lottery"
• "URGENT - business proposal worth $XX million"
• "Compensation fund release for fraud victims"

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

CEO impersonation asking employees to wire money or buy gift cards, or fake supplier invoices with newly "updated" bank details for payment redirection. The email often spoofs a real internal executive's display name and uses an external lookalike domain.

Common subject lines

• "Quick task - need you to buy gift cards"
• "Updated banking details for invoice payment"
• "Wire transfer request - urgent"
• "Are you available?" (CEO impersonation opener)

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

---

1

Check the sender's actual address, not the display name

30 sec

The display name (the human-readable part) is trivial to fake. Always check the full address that comes after it. Common red flags:

• Domain mismatch - service@paypa1.com, support@micros0ft-help.com, look-alike domains using digits or extra hyphens
• Free-email impersonation - any "official" message from a bank, courier, or platform sent from a @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @yahoo.com address
• Reply-To mismatch - the From address looks legitimate but Reply-To points somewhere completely different

Why this matters

Real companies own their domains and send mail from them. A "DHL" message from a Gmail address is never legitimate, regardless of how convincing the body looks.

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

Scams almost always rush you. The point is to make you act before you think. Treat any of the following as a strong signal:

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Final notice" / "Immediate action required"
• "Dear Customer" or "Dear User" instead of your real name
• Threats of fines, account closure, legal action, or arrest
• Promises of refunds, prizes, or money you didn't earn
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in messages claiming to come from a major brand

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

On a desktop, hover the mouse over the link without clicking. The real destination shows in the bottom-left status bar of your browser or email client. On a phone, long-press the link to preview the URL.

• Real Microsoft, PayPal, or bank links go to those exact domains, not redirects through unrelated sites
• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co) hide the real destination - never click them in unsolicited mail
• The visible link text and the actual URL must match - mismatches are the single biggest phishing red flag

Pro tip

When in doubt, don't click the link. Open a new browser tab and type the company's address yourself, then log in normally. If there really is an issue with your account, you'll see it there.

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

If you didn't ask for the file, don't open it - even if it appears to come from someone you know. Categories that should never be opened from email without verification through another channel:

• .exe, .scr, .iso, .img, .vbs, .bat - executables, never legitimate attachments
• .docx, .xlsx, .pptx with "Enable macros" prompts - the macros run the malware
• .pdf with "Click here to view" buttons - usually a phishing redirect, not a real document
• .zip, .rar, .7z archives, especially password-protected ones - the password defeats the email scanner

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

---

If you only received the email and didn't reply, click, or open anything, the steps below are all you need. Your computer is not infected.

5

Don't reply, don't click "unsubscribe"

30 sec

Replying confirms your address is real and monitored, which gets you added to higher-value scam lists. The "unsubscribe" link in a scam message is rarely a real opt-out - it usually leads to a phishing page or downloads a tracking pixel.

Instead, mark the message as junk or phishing inside your email client (this trains the spam filter), then block the sender.

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

• Gmail: open the message → ⋮ menu → Report phishing
• Outlook / Outlook.com: ⋯ menu → Report → Report phishing
• Apple Mail / iCloud: Move to Junk, then forward to reportphishing@apple.com

Forward or report to authorities:

• International: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• United States: ic3.gov (FBI)
• United Kingdom: forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS); for financial loss report at reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
• Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
• Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
• EU: your national CERT - find yours via the ENISA CSIRT map

After reporting, delete the email and empty the Trash folder so you don't accidentally open it later.

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

---

Pick the step below that matches what you did. If multiple apply, work through them in the order they appear - the steps are arranged from lowest to highest risk.

7

You only clicked a link (didn't enter anything or download anything)

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

Close the page right away. Don't enter any information, even if the page looks legitimate.

• Clear your browser cache and cookies for the last hour - Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del → Last hour → check Cookies and Cached files
• Run a quick scan with Combo Cleaner in case the page tried to drop a file silently (drive-by download)
• Update your browser to the latest version - most drive-by exploits target outdated browsers
• Watch for new browser pop-ups, redirects, or unfamiliar notifications over the next few days

Why this matters

Modern browsers block most drive-by attacks, but a single click on a phishing page can still be enough on an outdated browser or unpatched plugin. A quick scan catches anything that landed silently.

8

You opened an attachment or downloaded a file - run a full malware scan

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

Opening an attachment is the most common path to actual infection. Treat the system as compromised until the scans below come back clean. Work through these sub-steps in order:

8.1Disconnect from the network

Unplug Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. If the attachment was an info-stealer or remote-access trojan, this stops it from sending data out or receiving commands. Keep the network off until you've booted into Safe Mode (next step) - you'll reconnect there briefly to download the scanners.

8.2Boot into Safe Mode with Networking, then download the scanners

Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: hold Shift, click Power → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in 8.4) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in 8.5). Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers, so most malware can't auto-run while you're getting the tools. Save both installers to your Desktop.

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads - this is what catches rootkits and bootkits.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Install Combo Cleaner and run a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete fully, review what it found, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner will quarantine known trojans and remove their persistence in the registry.

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe). The binary expires every 10 days, which means every download has the latest signatures. Run a full scan after Combo Cleaner to catch anything one engine alone might miss.

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

Many email-borne trojans drop adware that hijacks browsers. Reset each browser you use:

Chrome: chrome://settings/reset → Restore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

Edge: edge://settings/reset. Then edge://settings/content/notifications.

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

8.7Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Then run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and update browsers and applications.

Important

If the scans keep finding new threats on each run, or files reappear after deletion, you may have a deeper compromise that needs a clean Windows reinstall. See pcrisk's full manual malware removal guide for the extended procedure (Process Explorer, Autoruns, hosts file inspection).

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

Assume the attacker has your password and is using it right now. Speed matters.

1. Change the password from a different, known-clean device (your phone is fine if it's not infected). Don't reuse the old password anywhere else.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
3. Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
4. Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
5. Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
6. Update security questions - the attacker may have seen the answers in your account profile.

Why email comes first

If you only have time to change one password, change your primary email password - it's the recovery hub for every other account. An attacker who controls your email can reset everything else.

10

You sent money or shared bank, card, or ID details

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

Time is the single biggest factor in recovering money. Banks can sometimes recall a wire or reverse a card transaction within the first few hours.

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of the card, not any number from the scam email. Ask them to freeze the card, reverse the transaction if possible, and flag the account for fraud monitoring.
2. If you sent a wire transfer or used a money-transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Wise), call them directly and request a recall. Some can be reversed within minutes if reported fast.
3. If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
4. File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
5. File with the right authority for your country:
   • US: ic3.gov + reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • UK: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
   • Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
   • Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
   • EU: your national CERT or police cybercrime unit
6. Set fraud alerts on all major credit bureaus if you shared any ID details. US: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion (Cifas Protective Registration is a stronger option).
7. Save all evidence - the original email (with full headers), screenshots of the fake site, transaction records, any phone numbers or chat logs.

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

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11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.