Avoid getting scammed by the "I have been watching you" sextortion email

What is the "I have been watching you" email?

"I have been watching you" is a spam email our researchers have classified as a sextortion scam. This letter falsely claims that there is proof of the recipient's infidelity and threatens to leak it - unless a payment is made. It must be emphasized that this mail is merely a scam, and none of its claims are true.

"I have been watching you" email scam overview

The scam email with the subject "Waiting for the payment ([date] D/MM/YYYY [time] HH/MM/SS)" claims that the recipient has been under surveillance for quite some time. This has allegedly allowed the sender to obtain a video of the recipient cheating on their partner.

The letter demands 280 USD in Bitcoin cryptocurrency for the deletion of the nonexistent recording. The ransom must be paid within two days. Once the transfer is verified, the video will be erased. The email also warns against filling complaints or disclosing the contents of the letter - since the sender is untraceable, and acting against these warnings will result in the recording's publication.

As mentioned in the introduction, the "I have been watching you" email is a scam - meaning that there are no videos featuring the recipient, and all of the threats made by it are empty. We strongly advise recipients of this email to simply ignore it, as it poses no threat whatsoever.

Spam campaigns in general

We have analyzed thousands of spam emails. This mail is commonly used for phishing and various other scams, as well as malware proliferation (e.g., trojans, ransomware, etc.). The scam models can differ drastically, ranging from empty threats to ordinary-looking notifications from genuine entities - however, the end-goal of practically all spam campaigns is to generate revenue for the cyber criminals behind them.

"Start The Conversation With Bad News", "I would like to avoid any accusations against you", and "I am sorry to inform you but your device was hacked" are just a few examples of the sextortion emails that we have researched.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam emails can have infectious files as attachments. Alternatively, these letters can contain links leading to websites capable of stealthily downloading/installing such files or ones designed to trick users into doing so themselves.

Malicious files can be archives, executables, Microsoft Office and PDF documents, JavaScript, etc. When the files are opened - malware download/installation is triggered.

For example, MS documents opened in pre-2010 Microsoft Office versions immediately initiate infection processes by executing malicious macro commands. Later versions have the "Protected View" mode, and users can manually enable macros (i.e., editing/content). It is noteworthy that virulent documents often contain deceptive messages to trick users into enabling macro commands.

How to avoid installation of malware?

We strongly advise against opening/clicking the attachments and links found in suspicious and irrelevant emails, as that can lead to a system infection. It is also recommended to use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010.

However, malware is not proliferated exclusively through spam mail. Therefore, we also recommend downloading only from official/verified sources and activating/updating software with tools provided by legitimate developers.

It is paramount to have a dependable anti-virus installed and kept updated. Security programs must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "I have been watching you" email letter:

Subject: Waiting for the payment 2/14/2022 8:41:22 p.m.

Hello -!

For some time now, I have been watching you
I know that you cheat on your partner.Its not my business, but i could make you loose everything if you fail to follow my instructions

All you have to do to prevent this from happening is - transfer bitcoins worth $280 (USD) to my Bitcoin address (if you have no idea how to do this, you can open your browser and simply search: "Buy Bitcoin").

My bitcoin address (BTC Wallet) is:
1B2pH6Q3oakYf6MJvxDasVw5yjNbD4S3yD

After receiving a confirmation of your payment, I will delete the video right away, and that's it, you will never hear from me again.
You have 2 days (48 hours) to complete this transaction.
Once you open this e-mail, I will receive a notification, and my timer will start ticking.

Any attempt to file a complaint will not result in anything, since this e-mail cannot be traced back, same as my bitcoin id.
I have been working on this for a very long time by now; I do not give any chance for a mistake.

If, by any chance I find out that you have shared this message with anybody else, I will broadcast your video as mentioned above.

Other examples of emails from "I Have Been Watching You" spam campaign:

Sample 1 (Spanish):

Text presented within:

Hola.
Le informo que tengo acceso total a su buzon de correo - y a todos sus mensajes.

Llevo unas cuantas semanas vigilándole.
¿No tiene idea de cómo es esto posible? Visito un sitio en que fue infectado con un software de mi creación.
Por si no sabe como funciona , voy a explicárselo.

Con la ayuda de este software, tengo total acceso a una PC o a cualquier otro dispositivo.
Eso significa que puedo verle siempre que quiera frente a la pantalla, con solo encender la cámara y el
micrófono sin que usted se dé cuenta.
Además, también tengo acceso a su lista de contactos, mensajes de whats app y a todos sus correos
electrónicos.

“Pero mi equipo tiene un antivirus activo, ¿cómo fue posible? ¿Por qué no he recibido ningún aviso?”
La respuesta es simple: mi software utiliza controladores propios, lo que me permite actualizar su actividad
cada dos horas y de esta manera no sea detectado , y por ende su antivirus se mantiene inactivo.

Le informo que cuento con un video en el que sale masturbándose, y del lado derecho  el video que estaba
viendo mientras se masturbaba.
¿En qué puede perjudicarle esto? Con una sola pulsación de ratón, puedo enviar el vídeo a todas sus redes
sociales y contactos de correo electrónico.
También puedo compartir todos sus mensajes de correo electrónico así como sus conversaciones de messenger y
de whats app.

Si desea evitar que todo esto suceda solo debe transferir bit.coin por valor de 850 USD (ochocientos
cincuenta dólares) a mi dirección bit.coin (si no tiene ni idea de cómo hacerlo, puede abrir el
navegador y simplemente buscar: “Comprar bit.coins”).

Monto: 850 USD
Mi dirección bit.coin es:
bc1qc7uadefgy5qm9pzfxng2cuy4pdgc76qu0v5q5j

Una vez que yo reciba el aviso de que usted efectuó el pago, borraré el vídeo de inmediato, y se acabó, no
volverá nunca a saber de mí.
Tiene solo dos días (48 horas) para completar esta transacción.
Cuando Usted abra este mensaje de correo, recibiré una notificación y mi temporizador se pondrá en marcha.

Presentar una queja o denuncia no le va a servir de nada, ya que este mensaje no puede ser rastreado, al igual
que mi identificador de pagos.
Llevo años dedicándome a esto y creáme.. Nunca cometo errores.

Si advierto que ha mostrado este mensaje a cualquier otra persona, distribuiré inmediatamente su vídeo, tal
como se lo he indicado. El tiempo comienza a correr en este momento.

Sample 2:

Text presented within:

Subject: It is a matter of immediate response

 

Hey!

Have you recently noticed that I have e-mailed you from your account, meaning I have total access to your device.

For the last couple of months, I have been watching you and have complete access to your device. You may not be familiar with this, with help of the Ransomeware and Trojan Virus infected in your device originating from a website that you had visited.
This simply means I have access to your camera, microphone, keylogs, passwords, remote control, admin privilege, and all your files without you even noticing it. This malwares undergoes a signature update every 30seconds, so your antivirus can not detect it.

I saw videos of your extramarital sexploitations, evidences on your misconducts and mischievous deals you do in your company.

With just a single click, this informations can be sent to all your social networks, phone and e-mail contacts. I can also share access to any of your contacts who responds for further information on you.

All you have to do to prevent this from happening is to transfer $2500 (USD) worth of cryptocurrency to any wallet address below(if you have no idea how to do this, you can open your browser and simply search: "Buy Cryptocurrency") and use your head to do the rest.

My wallet payment addresses:
BTC = 1LjwoPTNDBYLBWjJdFnvUMezEMHEWJsVrc
ETH = 0x19d7216905992b71661ee43d034b32d3a214a53f
LTC = LSsNNMc2SQm9gXrruCnBLuv9XvR2tRwWkc
BNB = 0x19d7216905992b71661ee43d034b32d3a214a53f
USDT(TRC20) = TGtCAJprpGbJYBEH9nCYLQ9LDmgNoSjqU5
ADA = addr1v8q0zs6ecar9crccr6sslmyj5rl29s90ttv3y2r6sw4cgqq23d5ep
TRX = TGtCAJprpGbJYBEH9nCYLQ9LDmgNoSjqU5

You have 24 hours to complete this transaction starting from 8/6/2024 4:58:55 a.m. which is the time you received this message. Once you open this e-mail, I will receive a notification, and my timer will start ticking.
Any attempt to file a complaint will not result in anything, since my cryptocurrency wallet and this message cannot be traced.
After receiving a confirmation of your payment, I will delete the videos right away, and that's it, you will never hear from me again.

If, by any chance you have share this message with anybody else, I will broadcast everything as earlier mentioned above. Be Warned not to go against the instructions as advised!

Sample 3 (Portuguese):

Text presented within:

Subject: A aguardar o pagamento

Olá!
Reparou recentemente que lhe enviei um e-mail a partir da sua conta?
Sim, isso simplesmente significa que tenho acesso total ao seu dispositivo.

Durante os últimos meses tenho estado a observá-lo.
Ainda a questionar-se como isso é possível? Bem, foi infetado com malware proveniente de um site para adultos que visitou. Pode não estar familiarizado com isto, mas vou tentar explicar-lhe.

Com a ajuda do Trojan Vírus, tenho acesso completo a um PC ou qualquer outro dispositivo.
Isto significa que posso observá-lo a qualquer momento que eu desejar, ligando a sua câmara e microfone, sem que sequer o note.
Adicionalmente, tenho também acesso à sua lista de contactos e a toda a sua correspondência.

Pode questionar-se: "Mas o meu PC tem um antivírus ativo, como é que isso é sequer possível? Porque é que não recebi nenhuma notificação?".
Bem, a resposta é simples: o meu malware usa drivers, onde atualizo as assinaturas a cada quatro horas, tornando-o indetetável e, como tal, mantendo o seu antivírus silencioso.

Tenho um vídeo de você a masturbar-se no ecrã esquerdo e no ecrã direito – o vídeo a que estava a assistir enquanto se masturbava.
Sabe quão pior isto pode ficar? Com apenas um clique do meu rato, este vídeo pode ser enviado para todas as suas redes sociais e contactos de e-mail.
Também posso partilhar acesso a toda a sua correspondência de e-mail e aplicações de mensagens que utiliza.

Tudo o que tem de fazer para prevenir que isto aconteça é – transferir bitcoins no valor de $750 USD para o meu endereço Bitcoin
(se não tem ideia de como fazer isto pode abrir o seu browser e simplesmente pesquisar: "Comprar Bitcoin").

O meu endereço Bitcoin (Carteira BTC) é: bc1qc6wkxxp8cr0t44wrgjw3rpt4ywdgpelgq0acch

Após receber a confirmação do seu pagamento, irei remover imediatamente o vídeo e é isso, nunca mais ouvirá falar de mim.
Tem 2 dias (48 horas) para completar esta transação.
Assim que abrir este e-mail, receberei uma notificação e o meu contador começará a contar.

Qualquer tentativa de realizar uma queixa não irá resultar em nada, dado que este e-mail não pode ser rastreado, bem como a minha identificação bitcoin.
Já trabalho nisto há bastante tempo e não dou margem para erros.

Se, de alguma forma, descobrir que partilhou esta mensagem com alguém, irei transmitir o vídeo conforme mencionado acima.

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

---

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?

Spam emails are not personal, and thousands of users receive them.

Was my computer actually hacked and does the sender have any information?

No, the claims made by the "I have been watching you" email are fake. Therefore, neither have the scammers infiltrated your devices, nor do they have any compromising videos of you.

How did cyber criminals get my email password?

Your email might have been exposed after a data breach, or you could have fallen victim to a phishing scam (e.g., provided your email password to a phishing website disguised as a sign-in page or similar).

I have sent cryptocurrency to the address presented in this email, can I get my money back?

Cryptocurrency transactions are virtually untraceable, which makes them irreversible. Hence, you will not be able to return the lost funds.

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

If you have disclosed account credentials - change the passwords of all potentially compromised accounts and inform their official support without delay. And if the provided information was of a different personal nature (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) - immediately contact the relevant authorities.

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

No, merely reading a spam email will not trigger any infection processes. Malware download/installation begins when the email attachments or links presented in spam letters - are opened/clicked.

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

If the opened file was an executable (.exe, .run, etc.) - most likely, yes - your system was infected. However, if it was a document (.doc, .xls, .pdf, etc.) - you might have avoided triggering an infection chain, since these formats can require additional interaction (e.g., enabling macro commands, etc.) to begin downloading/installing malicious software.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and eliminate most of the known malware infections. It must be stressed that running a complete system scan is vital - as high-end malicious programs typically hide deep within systems.