Avoid getting scammed by fake "Foreign Beneficiary" emails

What kind of email is "Foreign Beneficiary"?

Upon reading the "Foreign Beneficiary" email, we learned that it is spam. This phishing letter offers the recipient a shady deal wherein they will be presented as a "foreign beneficiary" and claim the funds of a deceased millionaire. The recipient is promised 40% of the unclaimed millions for their involvement. The scammers target personal information and may request victims to send them money.

"Foreign Beneficiary" email scam overview

The spam email with the subject "From Mr. Paul Wilson" (may vary) claims to be a missive from the "Director of Commercial Banking" of the NatWest bank.

The sender states to have found an account belonging to an American multi-millionaire, who had passed away alongside his immediate family in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina. The director proposes to present the recipient as a "foreign beneficiary" and claim the 18.3 million pounds (GBP) from the deceased millionaire's NatWest account.

If the money is discovered by the bank, it will be considered to be unclaimed public funds and returned to the bank treasury. The deal require the utmost secrecy, and the recipient is promised 40% of the funds for their involvement.

As mentioned in the introduction, all the information in the "Foreign Beneficiary" email is false, and this mail is not associated with any real individuals or the National Westminster Bank Plc (NatWest).

The scam email requests the recipient to provide their full name, contact address, and telephone/fax number. Personally identifiable information can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes, including blackmail.

However, scammers can also ask for additional information, data (like log-in credentials) to be entered into phishing websites/files, or for victims to send them money.

When requesting payment, cyber criminals provide victims with legitimate-sounding reasons like handling taxes, transaction fees, etc. Difficult-to-trace methods are used for fund acquisition, such as cash hidden in packages and shipped, cryptocurrencies, gift cards, pre-paid vouchers, etc. By relying on such methods, scammers diminish the chances of successful prosecution and fund retrieval.

In summary, by trusting an email like "Foreign Beneficiary" – users can experience severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

If you have disclosed your personally identifiable or finance-related data – contact the appropriate authorities without delay.

Phishing spam campaign examples

"BMW Promotional Program", "Nedbank email scam", "SharePoint - ACH-Wire Authorization", "Microsoft Office 365 - Password Notification", and "SurePayroll email scam" are merely some of our newest articles on phishing emails.

Various scams are promoted through spam mail, including advance fee, inheritance, refund, tech support, sextortion, lottery, etc. Additionally, these emails are utilized in malware proliferation.

While spam letters are often poorly written and riddled with spelling/grammatical errors, they can be competently put together and even believably disguised as messages from genuine entities (e.g., companies, organizations, institutions, authorities, etc.).

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam campaigns proliferate malware by distributing malicious files as attachments or download links. Infectious files can be archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), documents (Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), JavaScript, and so on.

Once such a file is opened – the infection chain is initiated. Some formats require additional user interaction into jumpstart malware download/installation chains. For example, Microsoft Office files need them to enable macro commands (i.e., editing/content), while OneNote documents require them to click embedded links/files.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Caution is crucial when approaching incoming mail (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, etc.). Attachments or links present in dubious/irrelevant messages must not be opened, as they can be infectious.

It must be mentioned that malware is not spread only through spam mail. Therefore, we recommend being careful while browsing, as the Internet is full of well-disguised deceptive and malicious content.

Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified channels. Another recommendation is to activate and update programs using functions/tools provided by legitimate developers, as illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third-party updaters may contain malware.

It is paramount for device integrity and user safety to have a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. This software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats/issues. 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 "Foreign Beneficiary" spam email letter:

Subject: From Mr. Paul Wilson

 

From Mr. Paul Wilson
Email: pulwilson44@hotmail.com

My name is Mr. Paul Wilson, NatWest, Director of Commercial Banking, Chelmsford & Romford. United Kingdom. Being a top executive at NATWEST, I discovered a Numbered account with a credit balance of £18.300,000 00 British Pounds plus accumulated interest, which belongs to an American multi-millionaire Crude oil Merchant Mr. David Watkins, who was a victim of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Until now, nobody knows about his bank account with NatWest Bank and my further investigation proved that the deceased immediate family also died in the tragedy.

With my position at the bank, I have all access, secret details and necessary contacts for claim of the funds without any hitch. But due to the sensitive nature of my job, I need a foreigner to HELP claim the funds, my position as a civil servant and as a staff of the bank does not permit me or my relatives to claim this funds. Therefore I contact you as a foreigner to arrange the transfer of this fund out of this account before our next auditing because If our bank management discover that this account has been latent for these long, it will be frozen and the money will be returned to the bank treasury, as unclaimed public funds. Therefore, I want you to stand as the “Foreign Beneficiary", and I assure you of a perfect transfer strategy that will be placed in your name legally, so that nobody will suspect your claims.

 

For your involvement in this deal, you are entitled to 40% of the total amount transferred to your bank account and I will count on your sense of secrecy in order to avoid risky exposure of this deal. Upon consideration of the offer, Kindly provide me with your full name, contact address and your direct telephone/fax number, to enable me re-profile the fund to your name as the heir beneficiary and guide your communication with the bank for onward release and transfer of the fund to your bank account. Considering the sensitivity nature and magnitude of this project,i ask your reply to my private Email: pulwilson44@hotmail.com

Thanking you in anticipation for your prompt response.

Best Regards,

Mr. Paul Wilson,
NatWest Bank Plc.
Director Commercial Banking,
Chelmsford & Romford.

Appearance of the "Foreign Beneficiary" spam email (GIF):

Other examples of emails from "Foreign Beneficiary" spam campaign:

Sample 1:

Text presented within:

Subject: Re: Confidential Business Proposal

Hello,

Please pay close attention and understand the purpose of my reaching out to you today.

My name is David Parker, and I am the Business Relationship Manager at NatWest Bank Plc, London. I am contacting you regarding a highly confidential financial transaction and respectfully request your utmost discretion in considering this proposal.

As a top executive at NatWest Bank, I discovered a numbered account with a credit balance of GBP 17,400,000,000.00 (Seventeen Billion, Four Hundred Million British Pounds). This account belongs to a deceased client, Mr Juan Coronado, an American citizen who, along with his wife, tragically perished in the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in November 2001.

Due to my position at the bank, I have access to confidential details and key contacts that would enable the claim of these funds without complications. However, as a civil servant and employee of the bank, I am not legally permitted nor are my relatives to make this claim directly.

That is why I am seeking your assistance as a foreign partner to act as the beneficiary of the funds. I assure you that I have a well-prepared legal strategy to facilitate the smooth transfer of this money into your nominated bank account, without raising suspicion.

In return for your cooperation, you will receive 40% of the total sum for your role in this project.

If you are willing to proceed, please provide the following details:

· Your full name

· Contact address

· Direct telephone/fax number

This information will allow me to re-profile the account in your name for the bank to release the funds accordingly.

Due to the sensitive nature of this transaction, I ask that you respond only to my private email:davidparker016@outlook.com. You are also welcome to call me directly for further clarification.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. I look forward to your immediate and confidential reply.

Warm regards,
David Parker
Business Relationship Manager
NatWest Bank Plc, London

Sample 2:

Text presented within:

Subject: Thomas I have an important discustion to share with you

Hi -,

My name is Kevin Taylor, and I'm currently working with ABU DHABI COMMERCIAL Bank here in Dubai (UAE). I'm reaching out regarding an important business transaction that I believe may be of mutual interest and potential benefit to both parties and families.

Back in 2007, an individual by the name of Mr. Yemene Thomas, whose surname matches yours and whose records listed the same country of origin as yours, opened a fixed-term deposit with our institution valued at Twenty Six Million Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars for a period of 36 months. At the time, I personally managed the account before later advancing to the position of Managing Director.

The deposit reached maturity on September 27, 2010. Unfortunately, Mr. Yemene Thomas was reportedly among the victims of the 2009 earthquake in Indonesia, which claimed more than 1,200 lives while he was there on a business-related trip.

Since the final quarter of 2010, the bank's management has made several attempts to establish contact with him in order to determine whether the deposit would be renewed or the funds withdrawn upon maturity. Once I became aware of the situation and the likelihood of the matter remaining unresolved, I began considering possible ways the funds could be preserved and potentially redirected toward a mutually beneficial business arrangement.

Some directors here have been trying to find out from me the information about this account and the owner, but I have kept it closed because, I know that if they become aware that Mr. Yemene Thomas is late, they will corner the funds for themselves. Therefore, am seeking your co-operation to present you as the one to benefit from his funds at his death since you have the same name so that my bank headquarters will pay the funds to you. I have done enough inside bank arrangement and you only have to put in your details into the information network in the bank system database and reflect you as his next of kin.

If you agree with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 50% of the funds while 50% shall be for me, you can contact me directly via direct call: +1 (908) 493-2250 for more details about the transaction.

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Taylor.

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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

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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

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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

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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, even if they include information relevant to the recipients. Cyber criminals distribute this mail in massive operations, hoping that at least some recipients will fall for their scams.

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

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support without delay. And if you've disclosed other private data (e.g., ID card details, passport photos/scans, credit/debit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the corresponding authorities.

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

No, merely reading an email is safe. Systems are infected when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.

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

Infection success rates can be influenced by file formats. If the opened file was an executable (.exe, run, etc.) – your device was most likely infected. However, some formats might need extra actions to initiate system infection processes. For example, documents (.doc, .xls, .pdf, .one, etc.) may require users to enable macro commands, click embedded content, or perform other actions to trigger malware download/installation.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is designed to scan computers and eliminate all manner of threats. It can detect and remove most of the known malware infections. Remember that sophisticated malicious programs usually hide deep within systems – therefore, running a full system scan is essential for detection.