How to spot scams like "Mega Millions International Lottery"

What kind of scam is "Mega Millions International Lottery"?

After examining this email, our team determined that it is a scam email written by scammers who try to trick recipients into believing they have won a lottery but have not claimed their prize. They aim to lure recipients into providing personal information and (or) transferring money. This email should be ignored.

More about the "Mega Millions International Lottery" scam email

This email claims that the recipient's email address appears to be among the lucky winners who have not filed a claim for a prize. It says that the recipient's address won during the Mega Millions International Lottery, Megamillions, Monthly Play, Thunder ball, and Hot picks (an Internet giveaway program). The prize the recipient supposedly can claim is one million US dollars.

Scammers behind this letter pretend to be Elizabeth Lyons, a Mega Millions International Lottery claims agent. Once contacted, they may ask to provide personal information (e.g., credit card details, ID card information, address, etc.) or pay "administration" or other fees.

People who fall for such scams never receive any prizes. Thus, these scam emails should be reported as spam and deleted.

More similar scams

Examples of similar scam emails are "Qatar World Cup 2022 Pay-Out", "Google - Qatar World Cup Lottery", and "Scam Victim Compensation Funds". As a rule, scammers behind emails of this kind aim to extract money and (or) sensitive information. Typically, they pretend to be real people, legitimate companies, or other entities.

It is important to mention that cybercriminals also use email to trick recipients into infecting their computers.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Recipients infect computers via email after they open malicious attachments or links. Typically, cybercriminals attach malicious MS Office, PDF documents, archives containing other malicious files, ISO files, JavaScript files, or executables. Their goal is to trick users into downloading and executing malware by themselves.

Not all files infect computers immediately after they are opened. For instance, malicious MS Office documents infect computers after enabling macros commands.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Carefully examine emails containing files or links, especially when senders are unknown, and letters are irrelevant. Download programs from official web pages and verified stores. Do not trust advertisements and links on questionable websites (or notifications from pages of this kind).

Keep the operating system and installed software updated. Run antivirus scans regularly. Use reputed security software for computer protection. 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 "Mega Millions International Lottery" email letter:

Subject: CONGRATS YOUR EMAIL ID HAS WON

Dear Email User

We noticed that some prize remain unclaimed and your email ID appeared to be among the lucky winners who have not filed for the claim of their award prize.

Your email ID  won during the Mega Millions International Lottery, Megamillions, Monthly Play, Thunder ball, Hot picks which is an internet giveaway program whereby email addresses extracted from the internet, and the winners selected from a ballot draw.

Note, that tickets are not sold anywhere for this program; hence, your e-mail address subsequently won you in the 3rd category, i.e. match five plus bonus.

You have been approved for over two months to claim a total sum of One Million United States Dollars, credited to file GOLDEN/9GM/327752.

Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth Lyons
Mega Millions International Lottery
International claims agent.

Other examples of Mega Millions lottery-themed spam emails:

Sample 1:

Text presented within:

Subject: Draw...

 

From : MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY PROMO 2023

hxxps://www.megamillions.com/jackpot-history

You are our second runner up for this Month ballot drawing and you have
won the sum of $1 Million and a brand new 4x4 truck from Mega Millions
Annual Draws held on August 10th 2023 at about 3:00 EST Your Winning
Ticket Numbers are #MMLTT- 0147/2023/KRF & Batch Numbers MMLTT109,Serial
Number: 562876YRN-01(a),Always Quote Batch,Serial and Ticket Numbers.

This Email notifies you to begin your Lottery Claims through the Agent
assigned below.

Contact Agent: Mr. Mark Olivera
E-mail : markolivera562@gmail.com

Congratulations Once Again, Feel Free to see link above, Be sure to
quote your Ticket numbers for reference while contacting the Mega
Million Lottery Agent.

Mrs.Betty Coleman..
Promotions Advisor.

Sample 2:

Text presented within:

Subject: -: Richard Wahl Covid19 Benefit.

 

Hello dear,
Hope this email finds you well.
This is a very big news and a special message to you.
I am the winner of 533-Million, in the Mega Millions Jackpot. Due to the current pandemic, I've decided to join other world philanthropists to do what is within my capacity to bring relief to a few people and their local community, globally, through a random selection of web addresses by my financial team.
Your website has surfaced as one of the lucky recipients of this selection and with a heart of warm benevolence, I wish you a big congratulation.
Here is your donation code: RFECR00092027FP
When replying to this email, please ensure you state your donation code for verification by my financial team.
More details are on my YouTube channel.
WATCH ME HERE: -
Contact WhatsApp: +1 (518) 625-8953
contact the finance team by email only when you don't have WhatsApp: richardwahl.rfg2022@groupmail.com
Congratulations once again!
Kind regards,
Richard Wahl.

Sample 3:

Text presented within:

Subject: Important $2.5 Million Donation Confirmation

Hello , I've emailed you several times because my foundation has chosen you to receive a $2.5 million dollars cash donation for my charity project in which I won a fortune of $426 million Mega Millions jackpot on January 28th. Your name and email address came out victorious. When you get this email, please get in touch with me ASAP for more details and the claiming process.

Best wishes,
Mrs. Kristine Wellenstein
Copyright ©?2023 The Wallerstein Foundation. All Rights Reserved

Sample 4:

Text presented within:

Subject: Congratulations

I'm Mrs. Mavis Wanczyk, the mega winner of Seven Hundred Fifty-Eight Million in Mega Millions Jackpot, I am donating to 5 random individuals if you get this email then your email was selected after a spin ball. I have spread most of my wealth over a number of charities and organizations. I have voluntarily decided to donate the Sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to you as one of the selected 5.

THIS IS YOUR DONATION CODE: EF07975

Reply back with your donation code.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Mavis L. Wanczyk

Sample 5:

Text presented within:

Subject: Vyhlasenie suhlasu s fundraisingovym projektom a ponukou daru

 

Vazeny :*********

Volam sa pani Kristine Wellensteinova, Mega vitazka styristodvadsatsest milionov v Mega milionovom jackpote, darujem 5 nahodnym jednotlivcom. Ak dostanete tento e-mail, vas e-mail bol vybrany po roztoceni gule. Vacsinu svojho bohatstva som rozdelil na mnozstvo charitativnych organizacii a organizacii. Dobrovolne som sa rozhodol ako jeden z 5 vybranych darovat Vam sumu patstopatdesiattisic eur.

TOTO JE VAS DAROVACI KOD: B1033/SP-2024

V odpovedi uvedte svoj darovaci kod

Prosim, prijmi moj dar. Daroval som malu sumu penazi. Prijmite prosim tuto sumu, pretoze moze byt pre vas velkym prinosom. Ak prijmete moju ponuku, musite mi odpovedat priamo prostrednictvom e-mailu: Mrskristinefoundationorg@gmail.com

Je mi velmi zle a velmi sa bojim, v noci ani cez den takmer nespim. Nemozem zomriet bez darovania vsetkych tychto penazi, inak mam pocit, ze by to bola strata. Toto je moje posledne umyvanie a prosim, pracujte so mnou, aby ste to urobili. Mozem mat este par mesiacov zivota na tejto krasnej zemi, ale chcem robit dobro vam aj ostatnym. Chcem, aby si moje meno pamatali na zemi aj v nebi.

S Pozdravom,
Pani Kristine Wellensteinova
Email: Mrskristinefoundationorg@gmail.com
Adresa: Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, Kalifornia, USA
Nadacia Kristine Wellensteinovej; Saturday 21st September

_________________________________

Dear :*********

My name is Mrs. Kristine Wellenstein , The Mega winner of Four Hundred and Twenty-Six Million in Mega Millions Jackpot, I am donating to 5 random individuals. If you get this email then your email was selected after a spin ball. I have spread most of my wealth over a number of charities and organizations. I have voluntarily decided to donate the Sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros to you as one of the selected 5.

THIS IS YOUR DONATION CODE: B1033/SP-2024

Reply back with your donation code

Please accept my gift. I have gifted a small amount of money. Please accept this amount as it can be of great benefit to you. If you accept my offer, you must reply to me directly via email: Mrskristinewfoundation@gmail.com

I am very sick and very scared, I hardly sleep at night or during the day. I cannot die without donating all this money, otherwise I feel it would be a waste. This is my last wash and please work with me to get it done. I may have a few more months to live on this beautiful earth, but I want to do good to you and others. I want my name to be remembered on earth and in heaven.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Kristine Wellenstein
Email: Mrskristinewfoundation@gmail.com
Address: Woodland Hills,Los Angeles,California, USA
Kristine Wellenstein Foundation; Saturday 21st September

Sample 6:

Text presented within:

Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! YOU HAVE WON...6

 

CONGRATULATION!!! YOU HAVE WON

EUROPEAN MILLIONS MEGA LOTTERY

Calle Rios Rosas, 32,
Madrid Espana 28004

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE MEGA LOTTERY PICKER 2025 DRAW/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NUMBER: EBK/VC/5049/095
BATCH NUMBER: ESP /2022-25W. VGZ90400

JANUARY/1/2025

FINAL AWARD NOTIFICATION

Lucky Winner, 13 27 38 21 36 4 45

YOU HAVE JUST WON A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO CELEBRATE YOUR NEW YEAR AND FOR INVESTMENT IN THIS 2025. READ DETAIL BELOW

We are delighted to inform you of the MEGA LOTTERY PICKER 2025 DRAW held on JANUARY/1/2025; Despite a mix up of the names and number, the results were released on JANUARY/1/2025. Your name and your email attached to a ticket number: 01890419, with serial number: 991243 drew lucky number 5,24,30,31,43 with bonus Ball 3 & 6 which consequently Won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved the winner for a lump sum pay out of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand USD ($10,500,000.00 USD).

CONGRATULATIONS!
Note: All participants were automatically remotely selected at random through a remote computer ballot system online, drawn from Over 400,000,000 people Worldwide.

The program was designed and promoted by the European Union in collaboration with the Spanish Government and some other international Lottery institutions that include EUROMILLONES DRAW etc.
This has been one of the biggest ever played in the WORLD which aimed at changing the lives of millions of people across the world. To proceed with your claims, this information must be kept away from the public to avoid unwarranted abuse of the program or fraudulent claims by unauthorized person(s).

To begin your claims, contact (Mr. Jerzy Staszewski) the Foreign Service Manager/Remittance Officer of  SUNRISE EQUITY & SECURITIES S.A on +34687074521,  or FAX: +34911963216, or Email: jerzystaszewski22@gmail.com for the processing and remittance of your Winnings amount to you.
Remember to quote your reference number in all your reply correspondence.

Finally all winning must be claimed not later than FEBRUARY/7/2025.
After this date, the entire fund will be returned to the Ministry of  Economy as unclaimed funds.
Furthermore should there be any change of your personal details or address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.

Thank you and Best Regards.

FOR: MILLIONS MEGA LOTTERY.
Mr. Jerzy Staszewski.
Foreign Service Manage/Remittance officer.

Sample 7:

Text presented within:

Subject: Donation Fund

Hello
I am Mr. Richard Wahl, the mega winner of $533M In Mega Millions lottery jackpot. I am donating to 3random individuals and your account was selected after a spin ball . I have spread most of my wealth over a number of charities and organizations and I have voluntarily decided to donate the sum of $5,000,000.00 (Five Million) to you as one of the selected Three lucky beneficiary, to verify my winning please see my YouTube website page below WATCH ME HERE :

-

$533 Million Jackpot Winner Revealed: Modest Mega Millionaire Richard Wahl recently moved to New Jersey from Michigan and has only played the lottery a few time before the winning the $533 million mega millions lottery jackpot

THIS IS YOUR DONATION CODE: 0043034 Reply with the DONATION CODE to this email :
richardwahlrichar@gmail.com
MR RICHARD WAHL

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:

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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?

Scammers sent the same letter to all recipients. This email is not personal.

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

If you have provided personal information like credit card details, ID card information, social security numbers, etc., contact the corresponding authorities as soon as possible.

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

If you have opened an executable file, your computer is probably infected. In other cases, you may have avoided having your computer infected (e.g., if you have opened a malicious MS Office document but have not enabled macros commands).

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

Unfortunately, it is not possible to retrieve transferred crypto funds. Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible.

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

It is safe to open emails without opening links or attachments (even when those files or links are malicious).

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

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan the operating system and remove malware (it can detect almost all known malware). Since high-end malware usually hides deep in the system, a full system scan is required to eliminate it.