Do not trust the "I Know A Lot More Things About You" Email Scam

What is "I Know A Lot More Things About You"?

There are many examples of spam campaigns on the internet. Cyber criminals/scammers proliferate them to deceive unsuspecting recipients into transferring certain sums of money (cryptocurrency).

They claim that they used the recipient's webcam to record humiliating videos (or webcam photos) and threaten to proliferate this content, unless the recipient pays within a specific period. These emails are bogus and should never be trusted.

The scammers behind this spam campaign send emails with messages containing words that have certain characters replaced with symbols - these closely resemble the characters that form the actual word. For example, some words that have the "n" character replaced with the "η" symbol; the "a" character replaced with "α", and so on.

This technique is used to avoid spam filters. According to the scammers, the recipient visited a malicious pornography website which allowed them to access the webcam, monitor the screen, and collect contacts from Messenger, Facebοok and the email account.

They claim that they have recorded a split-screen video, which contains an adult video that the recipient was watching and the recipient actually watching it. They threaten to send the video to all of the recipient's contacts, unless they receive $2000 within 24 hours.

The recipient must supposedly transfer $2000 in Bitcoins to the BTC wallet address provided. There are several versions of this email/spam campaign, however, the only main difference is the Bitcoin wallet address, which is supposedly used to pay the ransom. In any case, these (and other similar) emails cannot be trusted and should be ignored.

"I Infected Your Computer With My Private Trojan", "Last Warning: Upgrade Your Email To Avoid Shutting Down" and "You Have 46 Hours In Order To Make The Payment" are examples of other spam campaigns. Scammers/cyber criminals proliferate these emails to trick recipients into paying ransoms money, however, they also send emails that contain malicious attachments.

In this way, they seek to trick recipients into opening the attached file (or a file that can be downloaded through an included website link) and infecting computers with high risk malware (e.g., TrickBot, Emotet, Adwind, LokiBot).

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Typically, cyber criminals use spam campaigns to proliferate malware by sending emails that contain website links designed download a malicious file (or an attached malicious file). They usually attach a Microsoft Office document, JavaScript file, executable file such as .exe, PDF document or archive file such as ZIP, RAR and hope that the recipient opens it.

In most cases, computers become infected with malware when a malicious file is executed (opened). For example, malicious Microsoft Office documents infect systems when users open them and give them permission to enable editing/content (enable macros commands).

Note that malicious documents opened with Microsoft Office versions released before 2010 begin the malware installation process automatically. This is since Microsoft Office 2010 and older versions do not contain Protected View mode, which prevents malicious documents from automatically installing dangerous software.

How to avoid installation of malware

If an email is received from an unknown/suspicious address, is irrelevant and contains a website link or attachment, do not open the contents. Note that cyber criminals/scammers disguise their emails as important, official, etc. Installed software must be updated and activated only through implemented functions and tools designed by official software developers.

No third party updaters or activation tools can be trusted. Furthermore, it is illegal to bypass activation of licensed software with various 'cracking' tools. Software should be downloaded from trustworthy, official websites.

Third party downloaders/installers, dubious web pages, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule) and other similar sources are often used to distribute unwanted, potentially malicious software. Keep computers safe by regularly scanning them with reputable anti-spyware or antivirus software, and remove detected threats immediately.

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 one of the "I Know A Lot More Things About You" email messages:

Yοur pαsswοrd ιs *****. I know a lot more τhηgs abοuτ you τhαn thατ.

Hοw?

Ι plαced a mαlwαre oη τhe ρorn websιte αηd guess whaτ, yοu νιsιted this web sιte tο have fuη (yοu know whαt Ι meαη). Whιle you were waτchιng τhe videο, your web brοwser αcted αs αn RDP (Remote Desκtop) αηd a keylοgger, whιch proιded me αccess to yοur displαy screen aηd webcαm. Right after that, my sοftwαre gaτhered all your conτacτs frοm your Messeηger, Fαcebook accοunτ, αηd emαil αccouηt.

Whατ exactly did Ι do?

Ι mαde a split-screen νideo. The first ραrt recorded τhe video you were viewιηg (you'e got αn excepτιonαl tasτe hahα), and τhe ηexτ pαrt recorded your webcαm (Yep! τ's you \ doiηg ηαsty τhiηgs!).

What shοuld you dο?

Well, I belιeνe, $2000 is α fαιr ρrice for οur little secret. Yοu'll mακe the paymeητ vιa Βιtcoin τo the belοw address (if yοu dοη'τ kηοw thιs, seαrch "how το buy Βιτcοιn" ιη Goοgle).

βιtcoιη Address:bc1qxy9cykzxrgpaaj4lxfqmlx5gr4mhpzrw3dnegn
(Iτ is cAsE sensiτiνe, sο copy αnd pasτe it)

Ιmportαηt:

Yοu hαve 24 hοurs τo make τhe paymeητ. (I haνe a uηιque ριxel wiτhin thιs email messαge, αηd rιght ηow Ι know thατ you have read thιs emαil). Ιf Ι don'τ geτ the ραymeητ, Ι will send yοur vιdeo τo all of yοur cοntacts, ιncluding relaτives, cowοrκers, and sο forth. Noηeτheless, if I do geτ paid, Ι will erαse τhe video immediαtely. Ιf yοu wanτ eνιdeηce, reρly with "Yes!" aηd Ι will send yοur νιdeο recordιng to yοur fιve frieηds. This is a ηοn-ηegοtιαble offer, sο doη'τ wαste my τime αηd yours by replying to thιs emαιl.

Maxim

As mentioned, these emails contain words that have certain characters replaced with symbols that closely resemble them. Here is a "clean" version of the above text:

Your password is *****. I know a lot more thngs about you than that.

How?

I placed a 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 proided 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 split-screen video. The first part recorded the video you were viewing (you'e got an exceptional taste haha), and the next part recorded your webcam (Yep! t's you \ doing nasty things!).

What should you do?

Well, I believe, $2000 is a fair price for our little secret. You'll make the payment via Bitcoin to the below address (if you don't know this, search "how to buy Bitcoin" in Google).

Bitcoin Address:bc1qxy9cykzxrgpaaj4lxfqmlx5gr4mhpzrw3dnegn
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)

Important:

You have 24 hours to make the payment. (I have a 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 five friends. This is a non-negotiable offer, so don't waste my time and yours by replying to this email.

Screenshots of other variants of these emails:

Original text within one of these variants:

Your ραssword ιs *****. Ι know α lοt more τhngs αbouτ yοu thaη thατ.

How?

I ρlaced α mαlware oη the pοrη websιτe and guess whaτ, yοu vιsιted τhιs web siτe tο haνe fuη (yοu knοw whατ I meαη). Whιle you were wατchιηg τhe νideo, your web browser αcτed as aη RDP (Remοte Deskτoρ) αηd a keylogger, whιch prοιded me αccess το yοur dιsplαy screen and webcam. Right afτer τhαt, my sοftware gατhered αll your cοηtαcτs from your Messenger, Fαcebοoκ accounτ, aηd email account.

Whαt exactly did Ι dο?

I mαde a sρlιτ-screen vιdeo. The firsτ ρart recorded the νιdeo you were νiewiηg (yοu'e goτ aη exceρτιοnαl ταsτe hαhα), αηd the next ραrτ recorded your webcam (Yep! τ's you \ doiηg ηasty thiηgs!).

Whαt should you do?

Well, I belieνe, $2000 ιs α faιr ρrιce for our lιtτle secreτ. Yοu'll make τhe ρaymeηt viα Βitcοιn το the belοw address (ιf yοu dοn'τ κηοw τhιs, search "how tο buy Βιtcοιn" ιn Gοogle).

Βitcοin Address:bc1qpuwdkmrht4pldr9s8yhkrxjawtlt6sp73ldcyt
(It ιs cAsE sensiτiνe, so coρy αnd pαsτe ιτ)

Ιmporτanτ:

You hαve 24 hours tο mακe the ρaymenτ. (I hαve a uηique pιxel wιτhiη thιs email messαge, αnd righτ now Ι kηοw τhaτ you hαve read this emαιl). If I doη't geτ τhe ραymeηt, Ι wιll seηd yοur video το all of yοur cοηtacts, iηcludιng relatινes, cοwοrκers, and so forτh. Nonetheless, if Ι dο get ραid, I will erαse τhe videο immediaτely. Ιf yοu wαnt evideηce, reply wiτh "Yes!" aηd I wιll send your vιdeo recordιηg tο your fινe frιends. This ιs a ηοη-negotιable οffer, so dοn'τ wαsτe my τιme αnd yοurs by replyιηg tο this email.

Timur

Este correo electrónico ha sido comprobado en busca de virus con el software antivirus AVG. www.avg.com

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

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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

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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

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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.