Do not trust "clustered e-mails pending" phishing scam emails

What is the "clustered e-mails pending" scam email?

"Clustered e-mails pending" is an excerpt from scam emails, which serves as the title for the spam campaign distributing these messages. The deceptive emails claim that recipients have messages waiting to be delivered into their inboxes. Note that the information provided by "clustered e-mails pending" messages is false.

The purpose of this spam campaign is to trick recipients into attempting to access their email accounts through a phishing website.

"clustered e-mails pending" scam overview

The scam messages with the title/subject "Found nearly (5) clustered e-mails" [this may vary] claim that the recipient's email is clustered. Due to this, "nearly" five messages were undelivered to the inbox. The fake messages are supposedly pending the recipient's approval.

There are two options given on what to do with the waiting emails: check/approve them or notify support of the error. In fact, the "clustered e-mails pending" messages are not notifications from an official source, and none of the claims made by them are true. There are no undelivered emails, and by trying to sign-in through the phishing site (to which the buttons in the scam letters redirect) recipients will inadvertently expose their mail account passwords.

Phishing websites operate by recording the information entered into them and sending it to the designers. Scammers are particularly interested in email accounts, as they are typically connected with other platforms, services, etc.

Through stolen emails, access and control may be gained over different accounts, which can be misused in various ways. For example, hijacked communication accounts (e.g., emails, social networking, social media, messengers, etc.) can be used by scammers to ask contacts/friends for loans under the guise of the genuine owners. Alternatively, via such platforms, cyber criminals can proliferate malware (by sharing infectious files).

Finance-related accounts (e.g., bank, online money transferring, e-commerce, digital wallet, etc.) can be used to make fraudulent transactions and online purchases.

To summarize, by trusting the "clustered e-mails pending" scam emails, users can lose their emails and associated accounts, experience severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

If attempts to log-in through the phishing site have already been made, you are strongly advised to change the passwords of potentially compromised accounts. Furthermore, contact your official support channels.

Similar scams in general

The term "spam campaign" defines a mass-scale operation during which thousands of deceptive emails are sent. "Webmail email scam", "Email Account Is Almost Full", and "Synchronize Mail Error" are some examples of other campaigns similar to "clustered e-mails pending".

These operations are used for phishing, various other scams, and malware (e.g., trojan, ransomware, etc.) proliferation. Spam mail is usually presented as "official", "urgent", "important", "priority", and so on.

No matter what the scam messages claim, offer, promise, request or demand, the purpose is identical: to generate revenue for the scammers/cyber criminals behind them.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Phishing emails that are used to deliver malware generally contain a download link for a malicious file or attachment. Typically, cyber criminals attempt to trick recipients into opening a PDF or Microsoft Office document, JavaScript file, an executable file (.exe), ZIP, RAR, or other archive file that is designed to install specific malicious software.

Note that malicious MS Office documents can install malware only when users enable editing/content (macros commands). If the documents are opened with MS Office versions prior to 2010, however, the documents install malicious software automatically, since these older versions do not include "Protected View" mode.

How to avoid installation of malware

To avoid malware spread via spam mail, you are strongly advised against opening suspicious or irrelevant emails, especially those with any attachments or links present within them.

Additionally, use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010. Malicious programs also proliferate through untrusted download channels (e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders), illegal software activation ("cracking") tools, and fake updaters.

Therefore, only download from official/verified sources and activate and update software with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers.

To ensure device integrity and user privacy, have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept updated. Furthermore, use these programs to run regular system scans and to remove detected/potential threats.

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 "clustered e-mails pending" scam email message:

Subject: Found nearly (5) clustered e-mails

 

******** E-Mail Clustered On 3/4/2021 9:09:52 p.m.
Found nearly (5) clustered e-mails pending and not delivered yet to your webmail.   

 

Hi *******,

 

Pending and not sent emails are waiting for your approval.

 

Below list is approved for your prompt actions to be taken to restore back your emails to your webmail:

 

Check/Approve pending mails

 

Notify Error To Support

 

©******** Notification | All Rights Reserved.

Screenshot of the phishing website promoted by the "clustered e-mails pending" spam campaign:

Another variant of clustered email-themed spam promoting a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: ******** You have Six{6} pending mails

Message is from  ******** trusted source

You have Six{6} pending mails clustered on your cloud due to low mailbox storage capacity.

Logon to increase mailbox storage and release pending messages to your inbox following below instruction.

MOVE MAILS TO INBOX
CLEAN-UP CLOUD

Mails will remain pending till proper action is taken by you.

Messages older than 10 days will be removed

Best Regards,

******** Mail Admin.

________________________

This e-mail notification was sent to ********

(c)2021 Inc. All rights reserved. Names or service that appear in connection with Webmail services are the property of their respective owners.
Webmail monitors incoming and outgoing email communications, including the content of emails and attachments,
for purposes of security, legal compliance, training, quality assurance and other purposes.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of pending messages-themed scam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: 3/29/2021 4:56:12 p.m. pending delivery messages on ********

 

Attention ********,

Your email messages are now queued up and pending delivery because your email has not been resently validated. All pending messages will be deleted within 48hrs if you do not take action.
You are required to verify your email ******** to restore normal email delivery.

Verify Email Now
 
noreply     ********     2 message
Action Required     
Pending
    
High Priority.
Disclaimer: This email and its content are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee.This message was sent from an unmonitored e-mail address please do not reply to this message Privacy|Term
Secured by CPanel Encryption, Copyright © 2009-2020 All rights reserved.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Another example of pending mail-themed spam used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: You have pending mails on ******** due to Expiration notice

 

********,

Upgrade Email and Ownership Verification.
Confirm Here
Thank you
******** Support.
5/24/2021

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

Another example of clustered emails-themed spam:

Text presented within:

Subject: You have (12) clustered e-mails not pending and not delivered yet to your mail.

 

Found nearly (12) clustered e-mails not pending and not delivered yet to your webmail.

Hi ********,

You have [12] undelivered mails on 6/1/2021 2:26:07 a.m..This was caused due to a system delay,

Below are list of approved for your prompt actions to Rectify the Error:

Check/Approve pending mails

Notify Error To Support

©.lt Notification | All Rights Reserved.

Yet another example of pending emails-themed spam:

Text presented within:

Subject: Action Required: You have new held messages⚠️

From ******** Server Admin

You have six messages still pending to be delivered to your inbox since Monday, June 21st, 2021.

Mailbox: ********

Subject Recipient Date
FW: Invoice copy AWB No. 325-2322         ********          21/06/2021
Updated Sea Freight Quotation         ********          21/06/2021
AW: PO#203477 INVOICES         ********          20/06/2021
Re: 关于启动司编制21/06/2021计划         ********          18/06/2021
Fwd: Payment ---- Forwarded message ----         ********          17/06/2021
COVID-19 Safety Measures         ********          17/06/2021
 
 Release Pending Mails to inbox

Report Error To IT Help Desk

You will receive pending emails after successful login via portal as we apologize for the inconvenience.
Message Encrypted by ******** © All Rights Reserved. | If you do not wish to recieve this message Unsubscribe.

Yet another example of pending email-themed spam:

Text presented within:

Subject: Mail delivery failed: ******** have 6 Pending incoming messages.

 

You have Incoming Pending Messages

The following messages have been blocked by your mail-server due to validation error.

You have six pending messages .
 
Incoming  Messages:
Status :     Subject:     Time:
pending Fwd: Payment  ------ forwarded message ----       07:17 am
pending We didn't receive any reply from you CALL ME      07:21 am
pending RE: Updated PI 08:19 am
pending Zoom meeting request tomorrow     08:29 am
pending NEW ORDER 10:27  am
pending FedEx Shipment     11:02 am
DELIVER ALL MAILS

Note: The messages will be delivered within 1-2 hours after you receive a confirmation mail notice.

This message was sent by the MailDaemon server ******** notification.

Thank you!

Copyright© 2021 Webmail, Inc.

Yet another example of pending-emails themed spam promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: incoming messages are pending on your mail server

Hello ********,

Due to IMAP/POP error settings for ******** some incoming messages are pending on your mail server.

To avoid missing important messages, Log on to

Server portal

to automatically fix and download pending messages.

Note: Quarantined mails will be permanently deleted after 7days.

Thanks,

******** Mail Admin.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website (johnspedy[.]co[.]uk):

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

Text presented within:

Subject: MAILBOX UPDATE - ******** have Pending 6 undelivered emails

 

We have recently upgraded our Secure Message system, and you have an important file waiting for approval on ********

Email Delivery Reports For ********
Pending Status :      Subject:       Time:
pending      : Fwd: Payment ------ forwarded message ------            04:41 am
pending      : Re:Re: Purchase Order 2021                         05:28 am
pending      : Hello ********, COVID-19 Update      07:21 am
pending      : Fwd: DHL Delivery For You       09:11 am
pending      : Your ******** storage is full      09:54 am
pending     : Re: Zoom meeting request tomorrow      11:21 am
Move To Inbox

Note :  The messages will be delivered within 1-2 hours after you receive a confirmation Mail Notice. Please do not reply. If this message lands in your spam folder, please move it to your inbox folder.

Copyrights 2021 ******** Source: Mail Support.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of clustered emails-themed spam:

Text presented within:

Subject: 13 Messages Pending

 

To, ********

Your incoming messages are now queued up and pending delivery,
because your address has not been validated by Gsuite and Office365 servers.

You are required to validate your address ******** to restore normal inbox delivery.
____________________________________________________
Validate ******** Now

Please note:

Login with your eMail ******** Password
to validate, be sure to do so in a Secure Manner.

Once validated your Email Delivery system would be working
in Less Than 2 Hours.

Sincerely,
******** ISP Gateway.
____________________________________________________

This is a mandatory service communication for ********.  | If you no longer wish to receive this email Unsubscribe

Yet another example of pending mail-themed spam:

Text presented within:

Subject: Still On E-mail Pending Status!

From ********** Server Admin

The following messages below are pending on the server due to low storage.

You have six messages still pending to be delivered to your inbox since Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022.

Find the subjects below and release messages using using the release link below.

Mailbox: **********

Subject                  Recipient                   Date
FW: Invoice copy AWB No. 325-2322         To: **********          02/02/2022
Updated Sea Freight Quotation         To: **********          02/02/2022
AW: PO#203477 INVOICES         To: **********          01/02/2022
Re: 关于启动司编制02/02/2022计划         To: **********          30/01/2022
Fwd: Payment ---- Forwarded message ----         To: **********          29/01/2022
COVID-19 Safety Measures         To: **********          29/01/2022
 
Release Pending Mails to inbox

Report Error To IT Help Desk

You will receive pending emails after successful login via portal as we apologize for the inconvenience.
Message Encrypted by ********** © All Rights Reserved. | If you do not wish to receive this message Unsubscribe.

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?

Scammers often send identical letters to thousands of recipients, hoping to deceive at least a few of them. These emails are typically generic (not targeted).

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

If scammers obtained your login credentials, change the passwords for accounts that may be at risk. If you cannot access some of the accounts, contact their support to resolve the issue.

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

If the file is an executable, then it is highly likely your computer is infected. However, if it is a document file (like .pdf or .doc), you may have avoided infection, as opening documents does not always allow malware to enter the system.

I have read the email but did not open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, simply opening an email is safe. System infections can only occur if recipients open malicious attachments or links.

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

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove nearly all known malware infections. However, advanced malware often hides deep within the system, making a full system scan necessary.