I Know * Is One Of Your Pass Email Scam

What is "I Know * Is One Of Your Pass"?

Scammers send the "I Know * Is One Of Your Pass" email to thousands of people as part of a scam campaign. The scam is used to trick recipients of these bogus emails into believing that cyber criminals have recorded a compromising video of them and that they will proliferate it if their demands are not met.

There are many similar scams of this type, none of which should be trusted. All claims are bogus and the best option is to simply ignore the email.

I Know * Is One Of Your Pass spam campaign

According to this scam, the computer was infiltrated by a remote access tool (RAT) that was installed while the email recipient was visiting an adult website. Scammers claim that this tool allowed them to access the webcam and monitor computing activities (screen).

Furthermore, they claim that the installed tool also allowed them to steal all contacts from Messenger, Facebook, and email accounts. The main purpose of this email is to make people believe that scammers have recorded a video (using the webcam) of them watching the adult video (and also of the adult video itself).

Scammers threaten to proliferate this (edited) video to all of the victim's contacts unless their demands to pay $968 are met. The ransom must be paid in Bitcoins by funds transfer to a wallet address provided. They also promise to delete this video (which does not actually exist) as soon as payment is received.

This is simply a scam similar to many others. Many spam campaigns are used by cyber criminals who threaten that they will proliferate compromising videos unless their ransom demands are met. Emails such as "I Know * Is One Of Your Pass" should never be trusted.

Threat Summary:
Name	I Know * Is One Of Your Pass Email Scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Symptoms	Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of one's computer.
Distribution methods	Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Yоu May Not Know Mе, Wе Arе Nоt Going To Steal A Lot Of Time and I Am A Spyware Software Developer are just a few examples of other similar emails proliferated using spam campaigns. Most scams of this type share an identical goal: to extort money from people by blackmail and making false claims.

Other spam campaigns infect computers with malware. These emails infiltrate computers through attachments - usually Microsoft Office or PDF documents, archive files, executable files (.exe), and so on. If opened, they infect computers with LokiBot, TrickBot, Emotet, AZORult, Adwind, or other high-risk infections.

These malicious programs often steal personal details such as logins and passwords, banking account details, and proliferate other infections such as ransomware-type programs. Users of computers infected with this rogue software can experience problems relating to financial loss, privacy, browsing safety, etc.

We receive a great deal of feedback from concerned users about this scam email. Here is the most popular question 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?

As mentioned above, spam campaigns are used to proliferate malicious programs or other threats, however, they only infect computers if the included attachments (or website links) are opened. For example, opened Microsoft Office documents ask permission to enable macro commands.

If enabled, these commands trigger download and installation of high-risk computer infections. These rules also apply to other malicious files: they cannot do any damage if they are not opened.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Emails received from unknown or suspicious email addresses should be handled carefully. If an email contains an attachment or website link, do not open it without making sure that it is safe. These emails are often irrelevant to their recipients (how they can be identified). Download software using official, trustworthy sources, and direct links.

Do not use third party downloaders/installers, since many are monetized by promoting rogue applications that might be designed to proliferate unwanted or malicious programs. Install and download software with care. Check all available "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and options.

Deselect additionally-included unwanted applications and only then finish the installation or download process. Update installed software using functions or tools provided by official developers only. Various third party software updaters should never be used. If you are a Microsoft Office user, we recommend that you use versions no older than 2010.

Newer versions can prevent users from inadvertently downloading installing malware through malicious MS Office attachments. These later versions have "Protected View" mode integrated, thus preventing downloaded files from going on to download and install 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 "I Know * Is One Of Your Pass" email message:

I know * is one of your pass. Lets get directly to the point. Not one person has paid me to investigate you. You do not know me and you're most likely thinking why you're getting this email?
Well, i actually setup a malware on the X videos (porn material) web-site and guess what, you visited this website to experience fun (you know what i mean). While you were watching videos, your web browser initiated working as a Remote control Desktop that has a keylogger which gave me access to your screen as well as webcam. Just after that, my software program obtained your entire contacts from your Messenger, Facebook, and emailaccount. and then i created a double video. 1st part shows the video you were watching (you've got a fine taste omg), and second part displays the view of your cam, yeah its u.
You have 2 possibilities. Why dont we analyze the choices in details:
1st choice is to disregard this message. in this case, i am going to send your actual tape to all your your personal contacts and just imagine regarding the humiliation you can get. Do not forget should you be in an intimate relationship, exactly how it will affect?
Number two option will be to give me $968. Lets regard it as a donation. in this situation, i will instantly remove your video. You can go forward your way of life like this never occurred and you surely will never hear back again from me.
You will make the payment by Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search for 'how to buy bitcoin' in Google).
BTC address to send to: 1EiJMyvw2NP6T6vyWQ81HgUfBUVT1mqZkM, 1Lq8TnU33SMFUXcyGYmwkfriaBAfEoX5Co, 14cxPepKjJ8XR5k4u7jskJiqMH2vGFV5WY, 1M3r1T2MnqRPJUgWoSZTgaTqpVQUNdkpeC, 1ELzee2T9Wd5YPTYhWbWD3xK7xB5tJ94J4, 18z5c6TjLUosqPTEnm6q7Q2EVNgbCy16Td, 1EJcaYXy5AHuqPDSSSZ8rWiPXD5vsyfoAS, 16KYyLAv9ioGu5H5fHTmuSgbS5usGcQUna, 1FJHnBiaATrcwxdFrFLCLnoTeqYyCupC1r, 14wsWgEQarKo1uZKKAqvaGRCPdrTseh7SR, 1DrThpxYV7JtvrVkneuJMYtn8Fik8efSwn, 18z5c6TjLUosqPTEnm6q7Q2EVNgbCy16Td, 14cxPepKjJ8XR5k4u7jskJiqMH2vGFV5WY, bc1qtgyukjgv09fz83g5pckkkdlr0axtq5h5sxdxy5, bc1qj3pe06nsc9gnlgvae65yke56h92n8h9tr78qmh, bc1qwt6gzm5t0z5n38fgqdh7nyeycu9mtxtnmr9xen, bc1qetgl2deh6spsj9mps9jtlrdg3zc8j824dc8rtq
[case sensitive so copy & paste it]
if you may be curious about going to the law enforcement, good, this e mail can not be traced back to me. I have taken care of my moves. i am not trying to ask you for money so much, i only want to be rewarded. unique if i don't receive the bitcoin, i will certainly send your video to all of your contacts including relatives, co-workers, etc. Nevertheless, if i receive the payment, i'll erase the video right away. If you really want evidence, reply Yup then i definitely will send out your video to your 11 friends. it is a nonnegotiable offer and so don't waste my personal time & yours by responding to this email.

Another variant of this scam:

one of your passwrods email scam variant 2

Text presented in this variant:

* one of your pass. Lets get straight to the purpose. Neither anyone has paid me to check about you. You may not know me and you're most likely thinking why you're getting this e mail?
in fact, i installed a software on the X streaming (adult porn) web site and do you know what, you visited this site to experience fun (you know what i mean). While you were watching video clips, your web browser started out working as a RDP that has a keylogger which provided me with accessibility to your screen and webcam. after that, my software obtained every one of your contacts from your Messenger, Facebook, and e-mail . after that i created a double video. First part shows the video you were viewing (you have a nice taste ; )), and 2nd part shows the view of your web cam, & it is u.
You have got 2 options. We should read the options in details:
Very first alternative is to ignore this email. in this case, i will send out your video clip to almost all of your contacts and also you can easily imagine regarding the disgrace you can get. and likewise should you be in a romance, exactly how it will affect?
Number 2 choice would be to compensate me $6600. Lets think of it as a donation. Consequently, i most certainly will quickly discard your video. You will resume your way of life like this never took place and you will not hear back again from me.
You'll make the payment via Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search for 'how to buy bitcoin' in Google).
BTC address to send to:
1Dx5b8M8QZ1gLghDz6Ewd5U6cPDuQ5i3bz, 1Lq8TnU33SMFUXcyGYmwkfriaBAfEoX5Co, 1JvJEsdV3eMDaFWbS5LBpUVS5AquYnfSV4, 1DaNGiivQesRj1ztYyejcW52fEvQ1zdCtU, 17bnqtYGyvS1JCz6a4PQk4hjopw1EcFfwg, 1K8JErWEweVtR3eWHw9ffQxNHmz49xCCDd, 1Huwc6vs77Xd2SZAq6FWJQ2JY6hDsBu9Fj, 1CU4WkCwgZTsTwCeuzLMSTaGQoXwRYxaqX, XjpNCkdGBSS93Hh5tf5xHZ85ZGBN7AQdnA, 1MLpD3hHtTapLGS6mB59Cqr46gtWbNd9RN, 12uCRaow1FNZYhnXbpAvVEFjcZR3f2eTNL, bc1q0eavsfgnka4gkrqs5zqhxx4xptv0vq907n7zzz, bc1q4w5e9vd6esgxq3yr6crpgh0mccx8xdx7v5wjra
[case SeNSiTiVe, copy and paste it]
in case you are looking at going to the law, very well, this message can not be traced back to me. I have covered my moves. i am just not attempting to charge a fee a huge amount, i want to be paid. You now have 48 hours in order to pay. i've a special pixel within this message, and now i know that you have read through this email. if i don't get the BitCoins, i definitely will send your video recording to all of your contacts including relatives, colleagues, and so forth. However, if i receive the payment, i will destroy the recording right away. This is the non-negotiable offer, that being said don't waste mine time & yours by responding to this email. if you want to have evidence, reply with Yes! & i will certainly send out your video to your 14 friends.

Another variant of "I Know * Is One Of Your Pass" email spam campaign:

I Know * Is One Of Your Pass Email Spam Campaign (sample 3)

Text presented within this email:

^^ is your password. You don't know me and you're thinking why you received this email. right?
I placed malware on the porn website and guess what. you visited this web site to have fun (you know what I mean). While you were watching the video. your web browser acted as an RDP (Remote Desktop) and a keylogger which provided me access to your display screen and webcam.
Right after that, my software gathered all your contacts from your Messenger. Facebook account. and email account. What exactly did I do? I made a spl t-screen video. First part recorded the video you were viewing (you've got a fine taste haha), and next part recorded your webcam (Yep! It's you doing nasty things).
What should you do?
Well. I bel eve. S1400 is a fair price for our little secret. You'll make the payment via Bitcoin to the below address of you don't know :his. search "how to buy bitcoin" in Google).

BTC Address -->> 12xQ1CaVB3xpNx8GRixWefGekMgsNSzLcK, 1FodoCBED3gMN8j4EVDHHWvFqr1JFgH7Aj, XnfypYUMso855erq8vmsdGcFPcnWeUh1G4 (It is case sensitive. so copy and paste it)
Important: You have 24 hours in order to make the payment. (I have an unique pixel within this email message. and right now I know that you have read this email). If I don't get the payment. I will send your video to all of your contacts including relatives. coworkers. and so forth. Nonetheless. if I do get paid. I will erase the video immediately. If you want evidence. reply with "Yes!" and I will send your video recording to your 5 friends. This is a non-negotiable offer. so don't waste my time and yours by replying to this email.

Yet another variant of "" scam email:

I know - is your pass word email scam

Text presented within:

I know, -, is your pass word.

I require your complete attention for the next 24 hours, or I will make sure that you live out of guilt for the rest of your existence.

Hello, you do not know me. Yet I know nearly anything regarding you. Your entire fb contact list, mobile phone contacts along with all the digital activity on your computer from previous 113 days.

Which includes, your self pleasure video footage, which brings me to the primary reason why I am writing this particular e mail to you.

Well the last time you visited the sexually graphic online sites, my spyware ended up being triggered in your computer system which ended up shooting a eye-catching video footage of your self pleasure act simply by triggering your web cam.
(you got a incredibly weird preference by the way haha)

I have got the complete recording. Just in case you think I am messing around, just reply proof and I will be forwarding the recording randomly to 7 people you know.

It could end up being your friends, co workers, boss, parents (I'm not sure! My software will randomly select the contacts).

Would you be able to gaze into anyone's eyes again after it? I question that...

But, it doesn't have to be that way.

I'm going to make you a 1 time, no negotiable offer.

Purchase $ 2000 in bitcoin and send it to the listed below address:

18AeLHSfvhBbgTgj8pCUu*zuepUkKBz2MDX
[case SENSITIVE, copy & paste it, and remove * from it]

(If you do not know how, google how to purchase bitcoin. Do not waste my important time)

If you send out particular 'donation' (we will call this that?). Right after that, I will vanish and under no circumstances contact you again. I will eliminate everything I have about you. You may proceed living your ordinary day to day life with absolutely no fear.

You've 1 day to do so. Your time begins as quickly as you go through this e-mail. I have an special code that will notify me as soon as you go through this email therefore don't try to act smart.

Another variant "I know, *, is your pass word." scam email:

I know, *, is your pass word scam email (2020-04-28)

Text presented within:

Subject: See below

I do know, *, is your pass word.

I need your full attention for the coming 24 hrs, or I will certainly make sure you that you live out of guilt for the rest of your life span.

Hey, you do not know me. However I know just about everything about you. Your facebook contact list, phone contacts along with all the virtual activity on your computer from past 148 days.

And this includes, your self pleasure video footage, which brings me to the main reason why I am composing this particular mail to you.

Well the previous time you visited the adult porn online sites, my malware was triggered inside your personal computer which ended up recording a lovely video footage of your masturbation play by activating your webcam.
(you got a exceptionally strange taste btw lmao)

I own the whole recording. If you think I am messing around, just reply proof and I will be forwarding the recording randomly to 4 people you recognize.

It might be your friend, co workers, boss, mother and father (I'm not sure! My system will randomly select the contact details).

Will you be able to gaze into anyone's eyes again after it? I doubt it...

But, it does not have to be that route.

I'm going to make you a one time, non negotiable offer.

Purchase USD 2000 in bitcoin and send it to the down below address:

1CLoSDTps*BpbBT3vScasFVqbXnG9apKQvF
[CASE-SENSITIVE copy & paste it, and remove * from it]

(If you do not understand how, look online how to buy bitcoin. Do not waste my important time)

If you send out this 'donation' (let's call it that?). Right after that, I will go away for good and never contact you again. I will erase everything I've got about you. You may very well proceed living your ordinary day to day life with no concerns.

You have got 24 hours to do so. Your time begins as quickly you read this e mail. I have got an one of a kind code that will inform me as soon as you go through this email so do not try to act smart.

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

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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"

Example email with a fake invoice attachment

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"

Example sextortion email demanding bitcoin payment

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"

Example fake Norton or McAfee subscription renewal email

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"

Example fake DHL/USPS/FedEx delivery notification

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"

Example fake Microsoft or Apple tech support alert email

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)

Example business email compromise wire-transfer request

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.
Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
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.

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.

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.
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.
If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
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
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).
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

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.

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.