How to spot fake emails like the "Google Winner" email

What is "Google winner" email scam?

The "Google winner" scam is distributed using a spam email campaign that tricks people into believing that they have won £950,000.00. In fact, this particular email steals private information by leading users to websites where they are asked to enter login details, passwords, etc.

These emails are often used to distribute malicious programs. Therefore, do not trust "Google winner" and other similar scams - ignore them.

More about the "Google winner" email scam

Scammers present the "Google winner" email as a winning notification message. It states that the recipient has been selected as a winner of £950,000.00 for actively using Google services (Google search engine, Gmail, Maps, etc.).

To claim the prize, users are encouraged to contact the Foreign Payment Bureau via briancarter@g-reward.com and provide them with details such as full name, contact address, country and nationality, telephone/mobile telephone, occupation, age and gender, and private email address.

People are urged to keep their winning information confidential until the claim is processed and prize is remitted. As mentioned above, this is simply a scam and you should not contact these scammers via the email address or send your details. Note that Google has nothing to do with this fake online lottery.

As part of the scam, people are provided with a web link to a site where they are asked to enter their login details and passwords - this is how scammers use this particular scam to steal personal details.

Similar scams in general

There are many scammers who use a number of different spam campaigns. Some examples of other similar scams are Looked At You For Several Months, I Am A Spyware Software Developer, and Services Which Actually I Sell In Darknet.

In most cases, they attempt to extort money from regular users, however, some spam campaign infect computers with high-risk viruses such as TrickBot, Emotet, AZORult, Adwind, and so on. In these cases, people receive emails that contain malicious attachments (or web links leading to such documents).

Attached documents are usually Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, and others), PDF files, archive files such as RAR, ZIP, executable files, and so on.

The purpose of these malicious attachments is to install computer infections that steal personal data (passwords, logins, banking details, etc.) and cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety financial losses, and other problems. Furthermore, the aforementioned viruses also spread other infections such as ransomware.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malicious attachments presented in emails sent by scammers (cyber criminals) infect computers only when they are opened/executed. Therefore, manual intervention by a recipient is required. If the attached file is a Microsoft Office documents, once it is downloaded and opened, it asks for permission to enable macro commends.

Enabling them allows the downloaded malicious attachment to install a computer infection. If the attached file is an archive file, it will first need to be extracted.

This will probably contain an executable file (.exe) that, once executed, will install a malicious program. In any case, malicious files (attachments) presented in spam email campaigns cannot do any harm unless they are opened.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Ignore irrelevant emails received from unknown/untrustworthy email addresses. If an email contain an attachment (or web link), do not open it. Download software using official and trustworthy websites (or other sources). This does not include various peer-to-peer networks (torrents, eMule and so on), third party downloaders, etc. Download and install software with care.

Do not skip download/installation set-up steps without checking "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings or options. Opt-out of any offers to install additional software and only then finish the download/installation. Update software using implemented functions or tools provided by official software developers only.

Never use third party software updaters, since these are often dubious and install malicious programs.

Use a Microsoft Office suite version no earlier than 2010: newer versions have "Protected View" mode, which prevents downloaded malicious documents from installing computer infections. 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 "Google winner" email message:

Subject: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION LETTER
Dear Google User.
You have been selected as a winner for using Google services, attached to this email is Our Official Notification Letter for your perusal.
Larry Page,
CEO/CO-FOUNDER,
GOOGLE INC.

 Screenshot of the PDF document presented in "Google winner" scam:

Text presented in PDF document:

Google UK Ltd
Belgrave House
76 Buckingham Palace Road London SW1W 9TQ United Kingdom.
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION LETTER
Ref No: GAAP/ 5653/657/2018 Batch: GAAP/ 563/GAPRO/UK
We wish to congratulate you over your success in the official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online sweepstake organized by Google Inc., in conjunction with VisaÆ/MasterCardÆ International and confirmed by our co- sponsors the Foundation for the Promotion of Software Products (F.P.S.P). Over the years Google earns itsí profit mainly from advertising using their very own Google search engine, Gmail, Gala, Sify e-mail services, Google Maps, Google Apps, Orkut social networking and You Tube video sharing, which are all offered to the public for free.
Due to your active use of Google services, you have been selected as one of the Ten (10) winners in the ongoing E- mail Electronic Online Sweepstakes. Hence we believe with your prize, you will continue to be active in your patronage to Google and its Products, we wish to inform you that you are entitled to £950,000.00 GBP {Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand British Pounds}. A Bank Draft will be issued in your name by our Foreign Payment Bureau and also a Certificate of prize claim will be processed alongside your Bank Draft. All Payments will be made to you through our accredited paying bank (ELECTRONIC SWIFT TRANSFER) to your bank account in your country without you coming down to United Kingdom.
Your prize will be transferred to you upon meeting the requirements of the British Lottery Commission which includes your statutory obligations. You are advised to contact our Foreign Payment Bureau with the details below:
PAYMENT CLAIMS FORM
1) Your Full Names:
2) Your Contact Address:
3) Your Country/Nationality:
4) Your Telephone/Mobile Number(s):
5) Occupation:
6) Age/Gender:
7) Private Email Address (OPTIONAL):
8) Ever Won An Online Lottery?
Google values your right to privacy! Your information is 100% secured and will be used exclusively for the purpose of this award only.
Send all response via email to our Foreign Payment Bureau officer below:

Name: Brian Carter
Senior Vice President and Chief Legal
Email: briancarter@g-reward.com

NOTE!!! For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims are processed and your winning prize remitted to you through our accredited paying bank. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program please be WARNED!!!!
Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Anniversary Award Team.

Larry Page,
CEO/CO-FOUNDER, GOOGLE INC.
©Copyright 2018 Google Incorporation. All rights reserved.

Yet another variant of this email scam:

Text presented in this variant:

Dear Google User,
Find attached Google Official Letter confirming you as a winner of the ongoing AWARD PROMOTION, congratulations from all us.
Sundar Pichai,
Chief Executive Officer,
Google Inc.

GOOGLE INC.,
Google LLC
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 USA.
RE: OFFICIAL WINNING NOT IFICATION LETTER:-
BAT CH ID: 10084-202807 REFFERENCE ID:2807/0708/1408
We wish to congratulate you ony our success as you were selected as a winner in the official publication of results oft he E-mail electronic online sweepstake organized by Google Foundation and Foundation for the Promotion of Software Products (F.P.S.P).
You have been selected as one oft he lucky winners in the ongoing GOOGLE Electronic Online Sweepstakes and you are entitled to $1,450,000.00 USD {One Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand} in your category.
For processing of your payment, you are required to send the following information immediately:
PAYMENT CLAIMS FORM
1) Your Full Names:
2) Your Contact Address:
3) Your Country/Nationality:
4) Y our Telephone/Mobile Number(s):
5) Occupation:
6) Age/Gender:
7) Private Email Address (OPTIONAL):
8) Ever Won An Online Lottery?
Your prize will be transferred to you through our accredited paying bank upon meeting the requirements. All Payments will be made to you through our accredited paying bank (ELECTRONIC SWIFT TRANSFER) to your bank account in your country without you coming down to our office.
Send your payment verification information via email to our Vice President and Foreign Payment Administrator
below:
...............................................................................................................
Name:Jon Alferness Vice President and Payment Administrator.
Email: jonalferness.vice@gmail.com ...............................................................................................................
NOTE!!! For security reasons, you are advised to keep this notification confidential as part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Sundar Pichai,
Chief Executive Officer, Google Inc.

Another malicious attachment (Official Winning Letter by Google and mastercard visa 2019.pdf) distributed via this email spam campaign:

Text presented within this PDF document:

Google Visa/MasterCard (GVMC) Award
Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577 United States.
Your e-mail address winning details:
- Award Batch No: GVMC/6736006577/2019
- E-Ticket No: 2970006736006577UK/US
- E-Grant Amount: £950,000.00
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION LETTER
This is to inform you that you have been selected as a winner for using Google Services bythe E-mail
electronic online sweepstake organized by Google, in conjunction with the Foundation for the Promotion of
Software Products (F.P.S.P) and confirmed by our co-sponsors Visa®/MasterCard® International. You have
therefore beenawarded the sum of£950,000.00 with E-Ticket No: 2970006736006577UK/US. Be informed
that your prize has been insured and a Visa/MasterCard will be credited with the total sum won and
delivered to your designated address which you are to provide to your claim administrator. We do believe
with your prize, you will continue to be active in your usage of Google services and Visa/MasterCard
products.
Furthermore, your winning prize delivery logistics will be superintended by our European-regional
representative office as was indicated in your winning coupon slip. Your prize will be released to you upon
meeting the requirement of the promotion award board authority which includes your statutory obligations.
You are advised to contact our Foreign Payment Bureau with your Claims information as required below to
file your Claims:
CLAIMS FORM
1) Full Names:
2) Address:
3) Phone Number:
4) Age:
5) Occupation:
6) Private Email Address:
7) Ever Won An Online Lottery?
8) How satisfied are you with Google? (A=Very Satisfied; B=Satisfied; C=Unsatisfied)
Send all response via email to our Foreign Payment Bureau officer below:
----------
Name:David C. Drummond
Designation:Senior Vice President, Google.
Email: gukteamceo@googlemail.com
david.drummond.guk51@fastservice.com
----------
We value your right to privacy! Your information is 100% secured and will be used exclusively for the
purpose of this award only.
NOTE!!!Forsecurityreasons, youareadvised tokeepyourwinninginformationconfidential tillyourclaimsareprocessed andyourmoneyremittedtoyou. Thisispartofour precautionarymeasuretoavoiddouble
claimingandunwarranted abuseofthisprogram. PleasebeWARNED!!!!
Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Visa/MasterCard (GVMC) Award International.
MD Ajay Banga, Larry Page
President &CEO, MasterCard Int. Co-Founder & CEO Google Inc.

Another variant of "Google Winner" email spam campaign:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: Conventional View

Google Inc
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

Good day Sir/Madam,

You have successfully been picked as one of our 12 Lucky Winners in this months Lottery Draw, Please see attached file for more details.

Sincerely,
Sundar Pichai
CEO, Google Inc.

Screenshot of the deceptive attachment:

Another variant of "Google Winner" email spam campaign:

Appearance of this email (GIF):

Text presented within this email:

Dear Email User

You are one of the lucky winners of Google anniversary for a total sum of 950,000.00 GBP, view affixed for further details to claim.

Notification Team from Alphabet (Google).

>>> attached png file.

Another variant of "Google Winner" scam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: GOOGLE GB

Dear Lithuanian Google Award Winner,
 
We wish to congratulate you for being one of the selected Online Grant Recipient in the GOOGLE AWARDS UNITED KINGDOM COVID 19 RELIEF GIVE AWAY, Kindly confirm, reception of this notification email and contact our Regional Office in United Kingdom via Email for More Details with your Grant Payment Code (May/24/Lithuania/453/2020) of 946,000.00 GBP.
 
CONTACT DETAILS
Name: Seth Wallace
Google UK Grant Manager
Email: sethgfdawards@gmail.com
Phone #: +44 793 704 6513
Fax     #: +44 843 524 1558
 
StaySafe, StayHealthy StayPositive, From Google UK Team.
 
Regards,
Diane Greene (Google Cloud UK)

Yet another example of "Google Winner" scam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: Congratulations:International Grant Recipient

Dear International Grant Recipient,
 
We wish to congratulate you for being one of the selected Online Grant Recipient/Winner in the GOOGLE AWARDS UNITED KINGDOM COVID 19 RELIEF GIVE AWAY,Kindly confirm, reception of this notification email for More Details with your Grant Payment Code:(June/12/2020/Batch/453/).
 
Amount Won: 946,000.00 GBP
 
StaySafe, StayHealthy StayPositive,From Google UK Team.
 
Regards,
Diane Greene (Google General Secretary UK)
Phone #: +44 793 704 6513
Fax #: +44 843 524 1558

Yet another variant of Google-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: Thank You For Being An Active User(Your Reward)

 

Dear Google User.

Attached to this email is your official Google Sweepstakes notification for being an active user of Google Products.

Best Regards,
CEO/CO-Founder,
GOOGLE INC.

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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

---

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Typically, scammers send such emails to addresses obtained from phishing (or other deceptive) pages or after data breaches. They send the same letters to all addresses.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by this email, what should I do?

If you have provided your online account details (e.g., password, username), change all passwords as soon as possible. If you have provided other personal information (such as credit card details, ID card information, name, surname, etc.) contact the corresponding authorities as soon as possible.

I have downloaded and opened a malicious file attached to an email, is my computer infected?

It depends on the type of the opened file. Malicious Microsoft Office documents do not infect computers unless users enable macros commands (editing/content). Archive files cannot infect computers without extracting and opening their contents. However, executable files infect computers right after they are opened/executed.

I have read the email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, opening emails is harmless. Computers cannot be infected via email without opening links or attachments.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove malware from an infected computer (it can detect almost all known malware). Since high-end malware usually hides deep in the system, running a full system scan is required to eliminate it.