Do not trust fake "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" emails

What kind of email is "Summon To Court For Pedophilia"?

"Summon To Court For Pedophilia" refers to scam emails disguised as court summons issued by governmental bodies. These letters claim that the recipient is accused of activities relating to pedophilia. We have inspected two variants of these spam emails, one in French and the other in Lithuanian, English, Dutch; however, different versions are likely.

This spam mail can have relatively sophisticated appearances, e.g., include emblems, seals, and other imagery associated with specific governmental institutions. Additionally, the letters may use the names of actual officials in the positions of Director General of Police, Commissioner of Police, etc.

However, it must be emphasized that the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" emails are fake. Furthermore, the French Interior Ministry has issued warnings against trusting these letters.

"Summon To Court For Pedophilia" email scam overview

We analyzed two variants of the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" emails, one's subject/title was "Fwd_ N°5326EU-FR2022 PROCÈS VOUS CONCERNANT..eml" while the other's "šaukimas į teismą Nr. 9941/2022" (note, subjects/titles may differ). The text in these versions is thematically identical.

The letters present the recipient with summons to court. The most important information from the mire of legalese is that the recipient is accused of one or a combination of the following: pedophilia, sex trafficking, child pornography, cyber ​​pornography, exhibitionism, etc.

The fake emails then detail the potential repercussions, e.g., inclusion into the national registry of sex offenders, fines, arrest, incarceration, etc. The letters state that the recipient is to provide justifications within 72 hours.

As mentioned in the introduction, the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" emails are not genuine. Therefore, all the claims made by them are false, and the recipients have not been accused of any criminal activity.

The initial aim of this mail is to trick recipients into initiating communication with the scammers. Once contact is established, the cyber criminals may demand that the recipients provide sensitive information (e.g., personally identifiable details, ID card data, passport scans, banking account log-in credentials, credit card numbers, etc.), pay "fines" (transfer money to the scammers under false pretenses), or perform other actions.

It must be stressed that these emails pose no threat to recipients, and as such - they must be ignored. If vulnerable information has already been disclosed, we strongly advise changing the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and informing their official support (if the revealed data were log-in credentials), and/or contacting actual authorities (if the information was of a personal, financial, or similar nature).

Spam campaign examples

We have analyzed thousands of spam emails; "FedEx Corporation email virus", "Meeting Reminder email scam", "I Regret To Inform You About Some Sad News For You email scam", "Unicaja Banco email scam", "SIDDHIVINAYAK email virus" - are some examples of our latest finds.

This mail is usually presented as "official", "urgent", "priority", and similar; these letters are often disguised as messages from legitimate institutions, authorities, governmental bodies, organizations, companies, services providers, and other entities.

The scam models they use can range from notifications concerning mail that has failed to reach the inbox to claims that "hackers" have obtained sexually explicit videos of the recipient. Spam letters are primarily used for phishing and malware proliferation.

Due to how widespread this mail is, we highly recommend exercising caution with incoming emails and messages.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam emails proliferate malware by distributing infectious files. The files are spread in the form of attachments or download links. These files can be archives, executables, Microsoft Office and PDF documents, JavaScript, etc.

When such a file is executed, run, or otherwise opened - the infection chain is jumpstarted. For example, Microsoft Office documents infect systems by executing malicious macro commands.

How to avoid installation of malware?

We advise against opening the attachments and links present in suspicious/irrelevant emails and messages - since that may lead to a system infection. Additionally, we recommend using Microsoft Office versions released after 2010, as they have the "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic execution of macros.

However, malware is not distributed exclusively through spam mail. Therefore, we also advise downloading only from official/verified sources and activating/updating software with legitimate functions/tools (since illegal activation tools ["cracks"] and fake updates may contain malware).

We must stress the importance of having a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. Security programs must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats and issues. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Appearance of the French variant of the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" spam email (GIF):

Text presented in this email variant:

Subject: Fwd_ N°5326EU-FR2022 PROCÈS VOUS CONCERNANT..eml

Bonjour

Vous trouverez en pièces jointes
Bien cordialement
Mr Christian RODRIGUEZ
Directeur général de la gendarmerie nationale
TEL:+33 6 44 66 00 73

MINISTÈRE de la JUSTICE

RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE

Gendarmerie
nationale
MAIL :gendarmerienationale545@gmail.com

CONVOCATION EN JUSTICE

Pou r les nécessités d'une enquête judiciaire (Article 390-1 du Code de procédure pénale)

À votre attention

 

À la demande de Madame. Catherine DE BOLLE commissaire générale de la police fédérale, élue au poste de Directrice d'Europol " Brigade de protection des mineurs (BPM) " nous vous adressons cette convocation. La COPJ ou convocation par officier de police judiciaire est prévue par l'article 390-1 du Code de Procédure Pénale. Elle vaut citation devant le Tribunal et est décidée par le Procureur de la République. En application des dispositions de l'article 372 du code pénal énonce : " Tout attentat à la pudeur commis sans violences ni menaces sur la personne ou à l'aide de la personne d'un enfant de l'un ou de l'autre sexe, âgé de moins de 16 ans accomplis, sera puni de la réclusion. L'article 227-23 du Code pénal dispose : « Le fait, en vue de sa diffusion, de fixer. d'enregistrer ou de transmettre l'image ou la représentation d'un mineur lorsque cette image ou cette représentation présente un caractère pornographique est puni de cinq ans d'emprisonnement et de 75 000 Euros d'amende. Nous engageons à votre encontre, des poursuites judiciaires peu après une saisie informatique de la Cyber-infiltration pour :

- Pédopornographie
- Pédophilie
- Exhibitionnisme
- Cyber pornographie
- Trafic sexuel

Pour votre information. la loi 390-1 du Code de procédure pénale de mars 2007 aggrave les peines lorsque les propositions. les agressions sexuelles ou les viols ont pu être commis en recourant à internet. Vous avez commis l'infraction après avoir été ciblé sur internet (site d'annonce), visualisation de vidéo à caractère pédopornographique . des photos/vidéos dénudées de mineur ont été enregistrées par notre cyber-gendarme et constituent les preuves de vos infractions.
Dans un souci de confidentialité nous vous adressons cet e-mail. vous êtes prié de vous faire entendre par mail en écrivant vos justifications pour qu'elles soient mises en examen et vérifiées afin d'évaluer les sanctions : cela dans un délai strict de 72 heures. Passé ce délai. nous nous verrons dans l'obligation de transmettre notre rapport à Mme Maryvonne CAILLIBOTTE. Procureur de la République de Versailles pour établir un mandat d'arrêt à votre encontre et nous procéderons à votre arrestation immédiate par la gendarmerie la plus proche de votre Lieu de résidence et vous serez fiché au registre national des délinquants sexuels. Dans ce cas. votre dossier sera également transmis aux associations de lutte contre la pédophilie et aux medias pour publication de personne fiché au RN DS.

Cordialement,

Mr. Christian RODRIGUEZ,
Directeur général de la Gendarmerie Nationale
MAIL :gendarmerienationale545@gmail.com
----
DIRECTION CENTRALE DE LA GENDARMERIE
BRIGADE DE PROTECTION DES MINEURS
Adresse : 4 rue Claude-Bernard 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

Appearance of the Lithuanian variant of the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" spam email (GIF):

Text presented in this email variant:

Subject: šaukimas į teismą Nr. 9941/2022

Sveiki,

Pridedamas su jumis susijęs šaukimas į teismą.

Nuoširdžiai.

Algirdas MATONIS
Lietuvos Kriminalinės Policijos Biuro Vadovas
Tarptautinio Policijos Bendradarbiavimo Vadovas
Policijos Generalinis Direktoratas

LIETUVOS POLICIJA
VIDAUS REIKALŲ MINISTERIJA
INTERPOL

 

ŠAUKIMAS TEISINGUMUI
Teisminio tyrimo reikmėms

Esu Algirdams MATONIS, Lietuvos kriminalinės policijos biuro vadovas ir Tarptautinio policijos bendradarbiavimo (INTERPOL) vadovas.

Po kibernetinių infiltracijų konfiskavimo, bendradarbiaudamas su Nacionaliniu pornografijos, vaikų pornografijos ir "Cybercast" svetainių vaizdų analizės (CNAIP) ir Tarptautinės kriminalinės policijos organizacijos (INTERPOL) analizės tarnyba, susisiekiau su jumis, kad praneščiau, jog jums taikomas tam tikras teisinis procesas, įskaitant:

* PEDOPORNOGRAFIJA
* PORNOGRAFINĖS SVETAINĖS
* KIBERPORNOGRAFIJA
* PEDOFILIJA
* EKSIBIONIZMAS

Kviečiame būti išklausytam el. paštu šiuo adresu, užrašykite savo pagrindimus, kad juos būtų galima ištirti ir audituoti, kad būtų galima įvertinti nuobaudas; tai per griežtą 72 valandų laikotarpį.

pasibaigus nustatytam terminui, mes persiųsime jūsų bylą prokurorui, atsakingam už jūsų bylą, kad išduotume jūsų arešto orderį.

Todėl būsite užregistruotas kaip seksualinis nusikaltėlis, o jūsų byla taip pat bus nusiųsta žiniasklaidai, kad jūsų veiksmai būtų išplatinti plačiajai visuomenei, kad būtų išvengta pakartotinio nusižengimo ir taip atgrasyti kitus kandidatus nuo šios praktikos.
Dabar jūs esate įspėtas.

DG. Algirdas Matonis

Appearance of the English variant of the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" spam email:

Text presented within:

EUROPOL

OFFICE EUROPEEN DE POLICE (EUROPOL)
Creation 1er juillet 1999
Siege Eisenhoweriaan 73
Drapeau : Pays-Bas La Haye
Coordonnees 52 " 05" 34" N, 4" 16' 53" E
Employes 1065 (decembre 2016)1
Budget annuel € 116.4 millions (2017)2
Ministre responsable Drapeau de la France Jean-Philippe Lecouffe (Directeur Executif Adjoint)
Eisenhoweriaan 73 Drapeau : Pays-Bas La Haye

CYBERCRIME COMPLAINT

I am Mr. Jean-Philippe LECOUFFE, Executive Director of the European Police Office (Europol) and Director of the European Cybercrime Centre. I am contacting you due to a computer seizure of CYBER INFILTRATION, which is authorized in a particular in the fields of:

- CYBERPORNOGRAPHY
- CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
- PEDOPHILIA
- EXHIBITIONISM
- INDECENT ASSAULT, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING
- CONSULTATION OF PORNOGRAPHIC SITES INVOLVING MINORS

We have intercepted communications and collected material elements incriminating you.

A formal indictment file for the above-mentioned serious facts has been established.

This is a summons to which you must respond immediately by e-mail:

jean-philippe.lecoufe@etik.com

You are requested to contact us with your justifications in writing so that it can be examined and verified in order to assess the sanctions, within 72 hours of receiving this message.

After this period, we will be obliged to obtain an arrest warrant from the Public Prosecutor with immediate effect and to report you to all European law enforcement agencies. You will also be registered in the European Registered of Sexual Offenders, and your details and photography will be sent to associations and child protection organizations as well as to the mass media (press, radio, television ...) for wide dissemination as provided for by the legislation in force.

You are now warned.
Sincerely.
Jean-Philippe LECOUFFE
MR JEAN-PHILIPPE LECOUFFE DIRECTEUR ADJOINT DEUROPOL OFFICE. CHEF DE BRIGADE DE PROTECTION DES MINEURS

Appearance of the Dutch variant of the "Summon To Court For Pedophilia" spam email:

Another Lithuanian variant of this email spam campaign:

Text presented within:

Subject: Iškvietimas [338291865]

INTERPOL FIEP EUROPOL EC3 European Cybercrime Centre

BENDRADARBIAVIMO SU NACIONALINIA ŽANDARMIJA - TEISS POLICIJA STRUKTROS - COMCYBERGEND - EUROPOL (EC3) - FIEP

Gerb
sipareigojame susitikti su jumis, netrukus po kompiuterio užgrobimo dl kibernetins siskverbimo (pradtos ypač nuo 2009 m.) dl:

- vaik pornografija
- Pedofilija
- Kiberpornografija
- Ekshibicionizmas
- prekyba seksu

Jūsų žiniai Įstatymu leidėjas pareiškė, kad, kai Kodekse numatyti nusikaltimai ir baudžiamieji nusižengimai buvo atliekami naudojantis telekomunikacijų tinklu, numatytos baudžiamosios nuobaudos būtų apsunkintas.

Atlikę tyrimą, patvirtiname, kad padarėte nusikaltimus internetu (svetainėse reklamas, pornografines svetaines, pažinčių svetaines, socialinius tinklus ir kt.), tada per pokalbiai su nepilnamečiais.

Daugelis elementų, įrašytų per kibernetinį įsiskverbimą, yra jūsų pažeidimų įrodymas.

Jūsų prašoma išgirsti el. paštu, parašyti savo pagrindimus, kad jie būtų pateikti peržiūrima ir tikrinama siekiant įvertinti sankcijas; tai per griežtą 48 valandų terminą. Praėjus šiam laikui, turėsime nusiųsti savo pranešimą jūsų regiono Teisingumo Teismui, dėl jūsų arešto orderio sudarymo, dėl kurio nedelsiant bus suimtas arčiausiai jūsų namų esančią žandarmerijos brigadą.
Tada būsite įtrauktas į Nacionalinį seksualinių nusikaltėlių registrą. Tokiu atveju jūsų failas taip pat bus perduotos kovos su pedofilija asociacijoms ir žiniasklaidai paskelbti registruotas asmuo RNDS.

Pone Renat
Policijos generalinis komisaras
Prašome kuo greičiau atsakyti el. pašto adresu : mail@bppjeurol.net

An example of an Italian spam email spreading a PDF document containing claims regarding pedophilia:

Text presented within:

Subject: Settore Crimine Informatico - Convocazione - (Réf. XVZ-20-22.08.26-IT)

Alla vostra attenzione
 
Contattateci dopo aver letto l'allegato
 
Cap.Giuseppe Caputo

Screenshot of the attached PDF file ("Réf. XVZ-20-22.08.26-IT.pdf"):

Other examples of PDF documents and spam emails relating to this topic:

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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

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11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Spam emails are not personal. Cyber criminals send them in massive operations - therefore, thousands of users receive identical letters.

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

If you've provided log-in credentials - change the passwords of all possibly compromised accounts and inform their official support without delay. And if you have disclosed other private data (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 opening/reading a spam email will not initiate any system infection chains. Malware download/installation processes are triggered when the attachments or links found in this mail 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, you might have avoided an infection if it was a document (.doc, .xls, .pdf, etc.). These formats may require additional user interaction (e.g., enabling macro commands) to start downloading/installing malware.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and eliminating practically all known malware infections. However, it must be stressed that running a full system scan is essential - since sophisticated malicious programs usually hide deep within systems.