How to identify scams like "Invest In Your Company"

What kind of scam is "Invest In Your Company"?

Our examination of this email has shown that it is a fraudulent email designed to trick recipients into sending personal information and (or) money to scammers. Falling for such emails can result in monetary loss, identity theft, and other consequences. Thus, recipients should recognize such emails and ignore them.

More about the "Invest In Your Company" scam email

This scam email claims to be from Eunjin Bagan, the wife of a prominent Ukrainian politician who was killed by the Russian military. It states that she survived but is currently trapped in Lviv. The letter claims that her late husband left behind 5 million euros in a Turkish bank and 30 million USD in a security company in Dubai, and she needs urgent assistance to access the money.

Furthermore, the email says that Eunjin Bagan offers a 10% reward for assistance. It instructs the recipient to contact the Turkish bank to receive the 5 million euros, promising that they will be able to access the funds quickly. Lastly, the email says Eunjin Bagan will send a power of attorney to authorize the recipient to claim the money.

Typically, scams like this one are crafted to convince recipients to provide personal information (e.g., credit card details, ID card information, or similar details) or send money upfront to initiate the transaction. Either way, victims never receive any money. Thus, it is important to be careful when receiving such emails to avoid potential issues.

Similar scam emails in general

These emails aim to manipulate recipients into providing personal information or money. It is crucial to remain skeptical of unsolicited messages that promise large sums of money, especially when they involve urgent requests. Always verify the sender's legitimacy and approach such communications with caution to avoid falling for scams.

Examples of similar scams are "You Share The Same Name Email Scam", "A Businessman Made A Fixed Deposit Of Huge Fund Email Scam", and "Rothschild Foundation Email Scam". It is important to mention that fraudulent emails can be used to trick recipients into infecting computers.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Threat actors employ email to deceive users into infecting their computers by sending malicious files or links. Opening these files or following specific steps, such as enabling macro commands in infected Microsoft Office documents, can lead to malware injection. File types commonly used for distributing malware include executables, PDFs, archives, script files, and ISO files.

Links in these emails may lead to websites crafted to entice users into downloading malware. Additionally, they can direct users to sites that automatically download harmful files or programs without their consent.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Always scrutinize emails before clicking links or opening attachments, especially if they are unsolicited or come from unknown senders. Download files or software from official websites or trusted app stores. It is strongly recommended to avoid using other sources, such as third-party app stores, unofficial pages, peer-to-peer networks, third-party downloaders, etc.

Furthermore, avoid clicking ads, buttons, or links on suspicious websites. Regularly check for and install the latest updates for your software and operating system, and use a reliable security program to protect your devices. If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Invest In Your Company" email letter:

Subject: Good Day

Good-day,

My name is Mrs. EUNJIN  BAGAN, the wife to one of the prominent Ukraine politician, My husband and my only child were killed by the Russian Military while we were trying to leave Ukraine through Kiev, I was rescued alive but I am trapped back here in Oblast of Lviv where I am receiving treatments, ljust need an urgent assistance from you, My husband as a prominent politician and a businessman have 5 million euro in a turkish Financi bank and 30 million USD in a security company in DUBAI, It belongs to my late husband and I am the next of kin, we were saving the funds for his election in 2024.

It is true that I do not know you, but I have confidence that you will not disappoint me. I offer to pay you %10 of the funds and the rest you can invest in your company for me.

I wish that you contact the Turkish Financi bank first to receive the 5 million Euro, they will release the funds to you using the latest wire technology instantly. After that, then you can go to DUBAI to retrieve the 30 million USD.

I will send you the power of attorney that will empower you to receive the funds and once the Turkish Financi bank sees my power of attorney they will transfer the 5 million euro to you.

Please get back to me immediately
Regards
EUNJIN  BAGAN

Other examples of emails from "Invest In Your Company" spam campaign:

Sample 1:

Text presented within:

Subject: My Request,

 

Greetings,

Nice to meet you,I humbly write to solicit for your partnership and assistance with divine confidence that you are a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important business transaction believing also that you will not let me down either now or in the future

My name is Mis.Zalanda Mubarak I am 19 years old girl and the only daughter of my late parents whom were both killed during the political crises My father worked for many years in an oil drilling company and he made some funds deposited with my name as next of kin in his bank before he died he instructed me to seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for future investment purpose that is why I want you to help me transfer this money to your bank account in your country and also help me come to your country to continue my education.

This is because after the death of my parents, my wicked uncle wants to kill me and take over all my father property's from me because I have no one to defend me. He has taken the house in the village and the one in town and other things. I have reported my uncle to the local police here in my country, but nothing has been done since then. I am writing this mail from a local hotel where I am presently hiding for my safety.

I am willing to offer you 20% out of the Total Fund just for your Assistance for helping me regarding the transfer and investment of this Fund in your country and i will offer 10% of the total fund to the orphanage over there in your country,while my 70% will invest in profitable business and will be managing by you while I continue my studies. Endeavor to let me know your decision.

Your urgent response will be appreciated. Talk to you more sincerely

with regards

Sample 2:

Text presented within:

Subject: Business Expansion Funding Opportunity

 

Greetings,

We are international project financiers and we specialize in both start-up projects and existing businesses needing funding for expansion.

We will be willing to assist you or your company should you be interested or may require funding to revive your business or for the expansion of your business.
Our minimum investment target is $1M, and the maximum is $900M. The interest rate is a fixed 3% ROI per annum for 10 years and 12 months grace period.

We are willing to invest in all sectors and industries and we also invest in any stage. Our mode of investment is only loan / debt financing. If you have a business plan or executive summary we can review to understand a much better idea of your business and what you are looking to do, this will assist in determining the best possible investment structure we can pursue and discuss more extensively.

If you are interested, please reply back to this email so I can provide you with all the necessary details for you to make an informed decision.

I hope to hear back from you soon.

Regards,
Dogan Aydin

Sample 3:

Text presented within:

Subject: Loan funding

 

Esteemed Greetings to you,

How are you doing?  Are you an entrepreneur/business owner or chief executive officer seeking capital for your business growth or expansion?

I'm contacting you to know if you are open for investors into your company as we are currently providing financial support to companies and individuals for business and project expansion.

We also pay commission to individuals who direct clients to us for financing.

Our Financial institute will be willing to partner with you for your business growth.

Appreciate and await your response.

Please Ignore if you are not interested.

Allah bless you in good health and sound mind.

Hasan Al-Khalifa.
Chief Executive Officer

Sample 4:

Text presented within:

Subject: Re: Credit

 

Hi,

I hope you're doing well; I am a freelance financial broker.

I found your email contact in a business directory.

Our organization is interested in investing in your company, and we can also provide substantial finance to company owners, CEOs, and private enterprises to support their growth. Kindly contact me, so that we can discuss further.

Sincerely,
John Walter
Financial Consultant
Yanal Finance Company
3612, Prince Fawaz Bin
Saudi Arabia.
mail.yanalfinance@gmail.com

Sample 5:

Text presented within:

Subject: I got your contact on LinkedI=

Hello,

I am an agent representing an Investor seeking to invest,
I got your contact on LinkedIn.

Do you own a company? Do you represent anyone? Can you handle a quality amount of funds if invested in your care? as a Project Manager?

Please could you inform me in detail, as this requires a person with experience and connections in the economic world and leverages, also might warrant our face to face meeting.

You shall be detailed more upon your response.

Sincerely
David Lee.

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

---

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?

These emails are often sent randomly. Scammers send the same emails to all recipients without targeting anyone in particular.

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

If you have revealed sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or identification details, reach out to your bank or the relevant authorities and inform them about the situation.

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

If you have opened an executable file, there is a chance that your computer could be infected with malware. If you have opened a document file, such as a .pdf or .doc, you are likely safe, as simply opening these types of files does not lead to malware entering your system (unless additional steps are taken).

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

While opening an email is typically safe, clicking on links or opening attachments in scam emails can result in malware being activated.

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

Combo Cleaner can remove most known threats. It is important to note that advanced malware can deeply conceal itself within a system. Therefore, a full system scan should be run to ensure removal.