How to avoid falling for scams like "Facebook Page Has Infringed Copyright Information"

What kind of scam is "Facebook Page Has Infringed Copyright Information"?

We have identified this as a fraudulent scheme designed to obtain sensitive information. Perpetrators behind this scam deploy deceitful SMS and Facebook messages, luring users to open a misleading page and disclose their Facebook login credentials. It is strongly advised to disregard these messages and promptly report them.

More about the "Facebook Page Has Infringed Copyright Information" scam

The message utilized in this scam begins with a greeting addressed to the recipient as the "admin page". It claims to be a notice regarding a policy violation, asserting that the recipient's page has allegedly infringed upon copyright information.

The message further alleges that the account has been detected for violating the current copyright policy, emphasizing security concerns and the risk of permanent deactivation. In order to resolve the purported issue, the recipient is instructed to follow specified steps.

Failure to comply is threatened with the automatic blocking of the account. The message includes a link presented as a verification step for related accounts. The provided link directs users to a deceptive page that prompts them to input their email address or phone number along with their password for Facebook login

Upon submission, the provided information is transmitted to malicious actors, enabling them to gain unauthorized access to and pilfer Facebook accounts. Once in possession of login credentials, scammers can exploit the compromised accounts in various ways.

They may commit identity theft, leveraging personal information stored on their Facebook profiles to impersonate legitimate account holders. Furthermore, scammers can misuse the compromised accounts to disseminate phishing schemes, spreading malware or deceptive content to the victim's network.

The stolen accounts may also be used for social engineering attacks, where scammers manipulate the account holder's relationships to extract sensitive information or gain access to other online platforms. In essence, the theft of Facebook accounts opens avenues for a range of malicious activities, posing a significant threat to both the account holders and their social circles.

Similar scam emails in general

Phishing and smishing scams share a common goal of deceiving individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords, financial details, or personal data. These scams typically employ deceptive communication, often through emails, messages, or websites that appear legitimate, mimicking trusted entities like banks, social media platforms, or government agencies.

They exploit psychological tactics, such as urgency or fear, to manipulate recipients into taking immediate action. Additionally, phishing attempts commonly involve misleading links that redirect users to fraudulent sites designed to capture sensitive information.

Examples of phishing campaigns are "Bittrex Email Scam", "Your Password Is Due For Renewal Email Scam", and "DHL - Incoming Shipment Notification Email Scam". It is important to be aware that emails, SMS messages, or other communications can be used to deliver malware.

How do smishing and similar campaigns infect computers?

Scammers often include links in messages that lead to fraudulent websites. Clicking on these links may trigger the download of malware onto the user's device. The malware can range from ransomware to keyloggers, enabling attackers to steal sensitive information, encrypt files, or perform other malicious activities.

Also, fraudulent messages can include attachments that, when opened, execute malicious code on the user's computer. In the case of Facebook, attackers might use compromised accounts to share links that, when clicked, lead to websites with drive-by download capabilities.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Users should exercise caution when interacting with emails, messages, or social media links, avoiding clicking on suspicious or unexpected attachments and links. Also, regularly updating operating systems and software helps patch vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware.

Additionally, it is strongly recommended not to download pirated software, click ads on shady pages, or use third-party downloaders, P2P networks, and similar channels to obtain software. Lastly, it is advisable to utilize reputable antivirus or anti-malware software and perform regular system scans.

If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Cyber criminals promoting "Facebook Page Has Infringed Copyright Information" scam via SMS:

Text presented in the "Facebook Page Has Infringed Copyright Information" message:

Dear admin page!
POLICY PAGE!
Your Page has infringed copyright information!
Your account has been detected in violation of our current copyright policy. For security reasons and to prevent permanent deactivation of your account, follow these steps. In more serious cases, we will cancel your report immediately. If you do not confirm, our system will automatically block your account.
Verify these related accounts: hxxps://securitycheckmyaccount[.]com/*******
Thank you for helping us improve our account services.
FB copyright team integration.
The pages marked below are copyright infringers.

The appearance of the deceptive page used to steal Facebook accounts (GIF):

Screenshot of another Facebook page-themed phishing message promoting an identical website:

Text presented within:

Important Notification:

Your Facebook page - will be permanently deleted due to a post that infringes our trademark rights. We have made this decision after careful consideration and in compliance with our intellectual property protection policies.
If you believe this is a misunderstanding, please submit a complaint requesting the restoration of this page before it is removed from Facebook.
Request for Review: -
We understand that this may impact your current business objectives. If we do not receive a complaint from you, this will be our final decision.
Thank You,
Facebook Support Team!

Screenshot of yet another Facebook page-themed scam message promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Dear Admin!

Your account will be disabled. This is because your Page or the activity on it repeatedly fails to comply with our Terms of Service.
If you thinks this Account was disabled by mistake, we can walk you through some steps to request protection. We recommend that you compete these steps within 24 hours to avoid your account being permanently restricted, your page being unpublished, and all running campaigns being stopped.
Please request a review here:
-
If you send a request within 24 hours, our system will automatically delete your account permanently and you will not be able to use that account again, nor will you be able to create a new Page!
After you complete verification, within 24 hours Meta's support staff will call you for consultation.
Thank you for helping us improve our services.
Team Terms of Service © 2023 Inc.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Examples of other websites promoting "Facebook Page Has Infringed Copyright Information" scam:

Sample 1 (livechat.appeal-meta-support[.]com):

Sample 2 (account.metasystemhelp[.]com):

Sample 3 (meta-complaint-misconduct.pages[.]dev):

Screenshot of a spam email promoting a scam page claiming that the recipient's Facebook account will be deleted due to certain policies' violation:

Text presented within:

Your ad account is at risk of being deleted
Violation Case: #1633117870

Why you are receiving this notice:

Our system has identified that your campaign may include copyrighted material that is being used without proper authorization.

This is a violation of our Copyright Policy and may involves images, videos, music, text, or other protected content.

What you can do:

If you believe this an error or that you have the legal rights to use the content, you may submit an appeal.

Submit an appeal

Important: Failure to submit an appeal, or if your appeal is denied, will result in the permanent deletion of your ad account, with no further review.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and your compliance with copyright regulations.

Best regards,
The Facebook Ads Team

Screenshot of the promoted scam page:

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Types of malicious emails:

If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file from a suspicious email, run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. If you only received the email and didn't engage with it, you don't need to scan anything - just identify the scam and delete it. The full procedure below covers both situations and what to do if you already clicked, replied, or sent money.

Credential theft Phishing emails

Fake login pages disguised as PayPal, Microsoft, Apple, banks, or social networks. The email pushes a link to a near-perfect copy of the real login screen. The moment you type your username and password, the attacker has them.

Common subject lines

• "Action required: confirm your account"
• "Your password expires today"
• "Unusual sign-in attempt detected"
• "Verify your billing information"

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

Trojans hidden inside fake invoices, faxes, shipping confirmations, or Office documents. Opening the attachment runs the payload and infects the system - often with an info-stealer or remote-access trojan.

Common subject lines

• "Invoice INV-2026-XXXX attached"
• "Fax received - 3 pages"
• "Your shipping document is ready"
• "Voicemail from +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX"

Extortion Sextortion emails

Fake claims of webcam recordings demanding cryptocurrency. Almost always a bluff: the attacker pulls a real password from an old data breach to make the threat look credible, then claims to have video of you. They have no recording and no access.

Common subject lines

• "I know your password is XXXX"
• "Your account has been hacked"
• "I have recorded you - 48 hours to pay"
• "You have been compromised"

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

"Your subscription was renewed for $499 - call to cancel." Norton, McAfee, Geek Squad, PayPal, and Wells Fargo variants are all common. There's no real subscription. The phone number in the email connects directly to the scammer, who walks you through "refunding" yourself - which is actually them stealing money from your bank.

Common subject lines

• "Norton subscription auto-renewed - $499.99"
• "McAfee Total Protection invoice"
• "Geek Squad order confirmation"
• "Your PayPal payment is being processed"

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

"Your account will be deleted in 24 hours - verify now." The artificial deadline is the whole point: it pressures you to click before checking details. The "verify" link goes to a phishing page styled to look like the real provider.

Common subject lines

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Suspicious activity detected - verify now"
• "Final warning: account closure"
• "Action required to keep your account active"

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

Fake DHL, USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking, customs fees, or "package undeliverable" notices. Targets anyone expecting a parcel - the timing alone catches many people. The link hides either phishing (asking for card details to "release" the package) or a malware download.

Common subject lines

• "Your DHL package is held at customs"
• "USPS - delivery attempt failed"
• "FedEx tracking update - action required"
• "Pay $2.99 redelivery fee to release your parcel"

Remote access Tech support scams

Fake Microsoft, Apple, or "Windows Defender" security alerts pushing a phone number. Real Microsoft and Apple never email a phone number to call. The number connects you to a scammer who asks for remote access to "fix" the imaginary problem and then demands payment.

Common subject lines

• "Microsoft Defender expired - renew now"
• "Apple ID security alert"
• "Critical: virus detected on your PC"
• "Windows license expired - call now"

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

Inheritance, lottery wins, romance, or business deals that ask for a small fee to release a much larger sum. The classic "Nigerian prince" 419 family of frauds. Once you pay the first fee, more fees appear (taxes, lawyer, transfer charges) until you stop paying. The promised money never exists.

Common subject lines

• "Inheritance from a relative you didn't know about"
• "You won the international lottery"
• "URGENT - business proposal worth $XX million"
• "Compensation fund release for fraud victims"

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

CEO impersonation asking employees to wire money or buy gift cards, or fake supplier invoices with newly "updated" bank details for payment redirection. The email often spoofs a real internal executive's display name and uses an external lookalike domain.

Common subject lines

• "Quick task - need you to buy gift cards"
• "Updated banking details for invoice payment"
• "Wire transfer request - urgent"
• "Are you available?" (CEO impersonation opener)

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

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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 fraudulent message?

Scammers frequently employ automated tools to produce and dispatch a high volume of messages indiscriminately. If your contact details are publicly accessible or have been disclosed online, there is a chance you could be randomly chosen as a target.

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

If you have fallen victim to a scam and provided your Facebook account login credentials, change your password to a strong and unique one, enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of security, and review your account settings for any unauthorized changes. Also, report the incident to Facebook through their support channels to alert them of the compromise and follow any further instructions they provide.

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

If the file opened file is executable, the likelihood of infection is high. However, if it is a document like .pdf or .doc, there is a chance you may have evaded the infection, as merely opening the document is not always sufficient for malware to compromise a computer.

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

Merely opening a message or email poses no inherent threat. The risk arises when users click on links or open attached files, as these actions can lead to system infections.

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

Combo Cleaner has the capability to find and eradicate nearly all recognized malware infections. It is important to note that sophisticated malware can be hidden deep in the system. Therefore, performing a full system scan is imperative for complete removal.