Do not trust the Mail Quota phishing email

What is "Mail Quota Email Scam"?

In most cases cyber, criminals behind phishing emails such as this attempt to obtain sensitive information including login credentials (passwords, emails, etc.), credit card details and other details, which could be misused for malicious purposes.

In this particular case, scammers attempt to deceive recipients into entering their Microsoft Outlook credentials (email addresses and passwords).

"Mail Quota" email scam overview

Scammers behind this email claim that the recipient's mailbox size has reached 1990.08 MB, which is 99% of the imposed 2058.00 MB quota. To prevent the mailbox from exceeding its default email account space limitation, recipients must supposedly update their email quotas by logging in through the provided website link.

The link in this email opens a fake Microsoft Outlook login website (larkspurandtea[.]com). The scammers behind this email and website attempt to trick recipients into providing their MS Outlook login credentials, which are used to steal Outlook and possibly the entire Microsoft account, or other accounts with identical login credentials.

By entering the aforementioned credentials, recipients would provide cyber criminals with access to Outlook and also to other Microsoft products and services such as Office, Skype, OneDrive, etc. This enables scammers to access hosted files, photos, contacts, and other personal files/data.

Depending on the data accessed, cyber criminals can use it to make fraudulent purchases, spread phishing emails such as this one, malspam campaigns, steal identities, and so on. They can also sell stolen accounts and accessed data/information to third parties (other cyber criminals).

Therefore, you are strongly advised to ignore this email and never enter credentials on any unofficial, deceptive websites.

Spam campaigns examples

Some examples of similar email scams are "Propuesta Comercial Email Scam", "Your Device Was Not Properly Secured Email Scam" and "2020 EU/COMMONWEALTH LOTTO Email Scam". In most cases, scammers behind them attempt to trick recipients into providing sensitive information or transferring certain sums of money.

Furthermore, emails can be used for other malicious purposes such as distribution of malware. In such cases, emails contain a malicious attachment or website link. Typically, malspam campaigns are used to trick recipients into installing Trojans, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners or other malware.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Generally, cyber criminals behind malspam campaigns send emails with a malicious file (attachment) or a website link to a download page of a malicious file. In any case, their main purpose is to deceive recipients into executing the file, which then installs malicious software.

Some examples of files that cyber criminals attach to their emails are Microsoft Office documents, PDF documents, archive files (ZIP, RAR), executable files (.exe), JavaScript files.

When users open malicious documents with MS Office 2010 versions or newer, they are asked to enable editing/content (macros commands). I.e., malicious documents cannot install malware without receiving such permission. Older versions install malicious software automatically, since they do not include "Protected View" mode.

How to avoid installation of malware

Software should NOT be downloaded or installed via third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule) or similar channels/tools. All software and files should be downloaded from official pages and via direct links.

Irrelevant emails that are sent from unknown, suspicious addresses and contain attachments (or web links) should not be trusted. Furthermore, installed programs must be updated and/or activated through tools or functions that are designed by official developers.

No other third party tools can be trusted or should be used, since they often infect computers with malware. Furthermore, it is illegal to bypass activation of licensed software with unofficial activation ('cracking') tools. Finally, any computer is safer when it is regularly scanned with reputable, up-to-date antivirus or anti-spyware software.

Text presented in the "Mail Quota Email Scam" email message:

Subject: PENDING UNREAD MESSAGES

Mail Quota: (99% Full)

Attention: -

Your mailbox size has reached 1990.08MB, which is over 90% of your 2058.00MB quota.Please login through webapp to delete some messages to avoid exceeding your quota

NOTE: FAILURE TO UPDATE EMAIL QUOTA YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEND / RECEIVE EMAILS

Update Email Quota

Source:  Mail Admin For  -

Screenshot of a fake Outlook login website:

Another variant of Mail Quota scam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: - quota full: (98% full)

Message from -.
 
Your mail box is almost full, this can stop keep incoming emails from arriving.
Use the link below to get more free space.

Click Here - - & Upgrade

Regards,
- notification
 
This message is auto-generated from -. security server, and replies sent to this email can not be delivered.
This email is meant for: -.

Another example of Mail Quota-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: -  Storage Alert for - Account User -

-  Storage Alert
for - Account User:  -
Dear ( - )

Your email account ( - ) has reached its quota limit,

To avoid email loss,  click here to increase your storage

After verification, extra security features will be activated on  -server Panel and your account will be safe for use.

Source: - Team 2020

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

A Portuguese variant of Mail Quota-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: ATENÇÃO: Sua caixa de entrada está quase cheia - #IIONWXOQZ

WEBMAIL

Sua caixa de entrada está quase cheia.

18251 MB         20480 MB
Current size         Maximum size

Cota de armazenamento baixa, você foi suspenso de receber documentos maiores que 25 KB

Você pode atualizar para um plano adicional de 5650 MB gratuitamente agora.

Clique aqui para aumentar o seu espaço de email

ID de mensagem: ZJ23 # 3UF5UFFVK2TYMYJFF0NZ

Com os melhores cumprimentos

Web Administrator

This email was sent to
Organization:  Safety Corporation., All rights reserved. @2020

Yet another variant of Mail Quota-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: Incoming Messages Restricted!!!

Incoming Messages Restricted

Dear *******
New update which brings a major security feature to emails, We are upgrading our Email server and this might affect some email accounts, You are advised to verify and re-confirm your email account in other to continue using our email services and  to get a vital upgrade that should help keep your Outlook inbox far safer and free from annoying and malicious spam.

You have some new messages in your email quarantine.
User Account:  *******  

Click Here to Update and Deliver Message(s) to your inbox folder:
 

Quarantined email
     Recipient:    Subject:    date:
Release    *******    Incoming Transfer from Sale@.... [HSBC]    1/7/2020
Release    *******    Re: Re: Contract | INVOICE COPY |  *******    10/7/2020
Release    *******    Re: SALES ORDER CONFIRMATION SO: 0047529    15/7/2020
Release    *******    Shipment 873017357362 Notification    17/7/2020
Deliver all messages (10)

Note: This message was sent by the system for notification only. Please do not reply

If this message lands in your spam folder, please move it to your inbox folder for proper interagtion:  Click Here

Note: Failure to verify your e-mail account,will result to suspension of incoming emails and data lost.
Thank you for using our service.

rcs.lt Administrator Security Team.

Yet another variant of Mail Quota-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: [ ***** ] WARNING: “*************” email account is almost full.

 

Mailbox quota notification for "*************".
     
The "*************" email account is almost full.

The email account currently uses 85.72% (877.77 MB/1 GB) of its capacity.

In order to prevent the loss of any future email and get more space. Use the Email Disk Usage tool at hxxps://*****/?goto_app=*************_DiskUsage, or ask the system administrator to upgrade your account to a larger quota.

The system generated this notice on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 4:02:36 AM UTC.
You can disable the "Quota::MailboxWarning" type of notification through the cPanel interface: hxxps://*****:2083/?goto_app=ContactInfo_Change

Do not reply to this automated message.

 sea
cP
Copyright© 2020 cPanel, L.L.C.

 Example of yet another similar phishing mail:

Text presented within:

Subject: *****: E-Mail Administrator

Your mailbox is almost full.

1. ********,
2.       4096MB
   Current size         Maximum size
   You are running out of space and soon you will not be able to receive messages.

Click Here: ******** to increase size automatically.

Thanks,

***** Mail System Administrator

Screenshot of a fake Webmail login site promoted via this email:

Yet another mail-quota-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Dear User
You have (3) three pending delivery on your email portal.
The messages can viewed by the subject of each message to -
User ID: -

Subject    Receipent    Date
Pending     RE: Bank Account on Invoices     To: -     16-10-2020
Pending     RE:RE: Enquiry     To: -     16-10-2020
Pending     RE:RE:RE:RE Outstanding payments     To: -     16-10-2020

REDEEM MESSAGES

Sincerely
Netease Admin (c) 2020 Secured Services

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site (abs-nks[.]com):

Yet another similar spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: Syncing Error - (6) Incoming failed mails.

 

Email Security Alert for ********

Dear ********

Our server detects that your email storage has exceeded its limit and needs to be upgraded immediately

Click here now to upgrade your email storage

If you fail to comply, we will lock your account and all email data will be permanenly lost.

Source: Email Administrator

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

Yet another mail quota-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: Mailbox Quota Notification For ********

 

Message To  ******** .
 
Your mailbox is almost full, this can stop incoming emails from arriving.

Use the link below to get more free space.

Click Here - ******** /Update

Regards,
********  Notification.
 
This message is auto-generated from noreply@serversettings.com security server, and replies sent to this email can not be delivered.
This email is meant for: ********.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

Yet another example of mail quota-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: Upgrade Your Email (********) Quota!

Dear ********,

We notice that your quota has exceeded its limit.

Click below to upgrade storage to 50GB for free.

Upgrade Email Quota To 50GB

Source: ********  ©2021

Yet another example of mail quota-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: SECURITY ALERT

SECURITY ALERT

Your mailbox size has reached 493.36MB, which is over 80% of your 500.00MB quota.

Please CONFIRM-NOW    to upgrade and verify your account and avoid exceeding your quota.

Mail Quota ©2021

Screenshot of the phishing website (jassersa[.]com) promoted via this spam email:

Yet another example of mail quota-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: Important Notice Do not ignore!!!

Your mailbox quota is almost full!!!
Dear ********,
4086MB 4096MB
Current size Maximum size
Please upgrade your mail version so that all pending/blocked mails can be delivered to you.
Also, delete any item you don't need from your mailbox and empty your "Deleted Items folder".
Click here  to upgrade your mailbox version and increase its size automatically.
 
Thanks,
********
This notification was sent to you only; Don't want occasional updates about subscription preferences and friendly suggestions? Unsubscribe  now.

Yet another example of mail quota-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: Your Mail Quota

 

Dear -,
1969MB 2000MB
Your Mail Quota is full. Kindly UPGRADE to receive your pending emails,
Click Here to Upgrade Mailbox Quota For Free.
 
NOTICE:
failure to Update your e-mail account. It will be permanently disabled.
 
Thanks,
Mail Administrator 2021 | All rights reserved.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of email quota-themed spam:

Text presented within:

Subject: Last Notification For ******** Upgrade

電子郵件配額: (98% 充分)

Note: ********

Your email quota has reached 98% and is about to exceed the limit.
Please follow the link below to upgrade your quota to 25GB for free to avoid losing email data.

Upgrade ********
Source: ******** Email Administrator

Another example of mail quota-themed spam promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: ******** Warning !!! Account reset upgrade

Dear ********,

You have 19% of storage space left in the mailbox quota.

In order to continue receiving new messages, it is recommended to increase the storage size of your ******** mailbox.

For your safety, click the button below to automatically increase the storage capacity.

Increase storage now →

Thanks,
******** mail service.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of Mail Quota-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: [!] mailbox 99% full

Mail account quota notification

Your Mailbox have exceeded its 100% Mail Quota Limit:

-

The system generated this notice on 12/4/2022 7:49:58 p.m..

You can increase mail quota through the cPanel interface:

cPanel Quota Settings

cPanel Compliance Center

cPanel Admin Settings

Do not reply to this automated message.

Copyright© 2022 cPanel, L.L.C.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of mail quota-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: Message Notification: ******** AccID : ##926811475- 7988

 

Security Alert

Dear ********

Our server detects that at 12/13/2022 10:56:08 p.m. today, your email account "******** " has exceeded its quota.

To keep recieving emails and increase your quota, kindly use the below link to update your email quota.
Increase Email Quota
This message is auto-generated from E-mail Management server, and replies sent to this email can not be delivered.
This email is meant for: ********

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:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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.

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?

Cyber criminals distribute spam emails in large campaigns – therefore, thousands of users receive identical messages.

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

If you have disclosed account credentials – change the passwords of all possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if the disclosed data was of a different personal nature (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the appropriate authorities.

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

No, just reading an email will not result in a system infection. Malware download/installation chains are triggered when the attachments/links found in spam mail are opened/clicked.

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

Whether your device was infected might depend on the file's format. Once opened, executables (.exe, run, etc.) infect systems almost without fail. However, document formats (.doc, .xls, .pdf, etc.) may require additional interaction (e.g., enabling macro commands) to start downloading/installing malware.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and eliminate practically all known malware infections. Note that running a complete system scan it's paramount – as sophisticated malicious software usually hides deep within systems.