How to avoid falling for scams like a fake email from Cryptopia

Phishing/Scam

Also Known As: Fake email from Cryptopia

Damage level:

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What is a fake email from Cryptopia?

After inspecting the email, we found that it was sent by scammers impersonating Cryptopia. The goal of this scam email is to trick recipients into providing personal information through a fake website. Such emails are known as phishing emails. Recipients should be able to recognize them and should always ignore them.

Cryptopia email spam campaign

More about the fake email from Cryptopia

Cryptopia (cryptopia.com) was a cryptocurrency exchange based in New Zealand that was founded in 2014. It became one of the top 100 exchanges by trading volume. However, after facing internal issues and a major security breach in 2019 that resulted in a significant theft of its assets, Cryptopia's operations declined.

The company entered liquidation in 2019, and a legal process to reimburse affected users is still ongoing. The scam email pretends to be from the liquidators of Cryptopia and urges account holders to register their claims in a portal before the specified "cut-off date".

It provides detailed instructions on how to claim cryptocurrency lost in the 2019 hack, including phases of distribution, eligibility criteria, and deadlines. The email also mentions a review process for disputes and warns of the potential loss of cryptocurrency if not registered by the deadline.

At the bottom of the email, there are links to "Claims Portal", "Customer Service Portal", and "Dedicated Information page". Clicking these links opens a fake Cryptopia website (portal.cryptopia.co[.]nz), a fake "Claims Portal Login" site that requests to provide an email address and password to log in.

The entered information is sent to scammers, who can misuse it for malicious purposes. They can use stolen login details to access personal accounts (e.g., email, social media, or banking platforms). Once in, they can steal sensitive information, such as financial data or private messages.

They may also use the compromised accounts to carry out fraudulent transactions, impersonate the victim, deliver malware, and launch phishing attacks. Furthermore, stolen credentials might be sold on the dark web. Thus, it is highly advisable to avoid responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments within them.

Threat Summary:
Name Cryptopia Email Scam
Threat Type Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim Account holders can recover lost funds
Related Domain cryptopia.co[.]nz
Detection Names Antiy-AVL (Malicious), VIPRE (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Disguise Letter from Cryptopia
Symptoms Generic greeting, urgent language, suspicious links, grammatical errors.
Distribution methods Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains.
Damage Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
Malware Removal (Windows)

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Similar scam emails in general

The scam email, pretending to be from Cryptopia's liquidators, preys on users hoping to recover their lost cryptocurrency by directing them to a fake claims portal. This phishing attempt aims to steal login credentials, which could then be used for fraudulent activities, including identity theft, financial fraud, and further cyber attacks.

To protect oneself, it is crucial to remain cautious of unsolicited emails, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and refrain from sharing personal information with unverified sources. Some examples of similar emails are "American Express - ChargeBack Payment", "LinkedIn Request To Buy From You", and "Storage Space Running Low".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Fraudulent emails entice users to unknowingly infect their devices via harmful files (attachments) or malicious links. These files can be MS Office documents and PDFs, script files, archives, ISO files, executables, etc. The malware activates when users open these files or perform actions like enabling macros in compromised documents.

The links embedded in these emails might direct users to malicious websites that automatically download malware or prompt them to manually run infected files or install malicious software. Essentially, cybercriminals succeed when users engage with these deceptive links or files, compromising their devices in the process.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Regularly update your system and software, and use reliable antivirus or anti-malware programs to protect your device. Do not allow suspicious websites to send notifications, and avoid interacting with pop-ups, ads, or other questionable content on shady sites. Only download software or files from official, trusted sources, such as official websites or app stores.

Be cautious when dealing with emails, especially those from unknown senders that seem out of context or unexpected. Avoid clicking on any links or opening attachments in such messages. If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Appearance of the scam email (GIF):

Cryptopia email scam email appearance

Text presented in the fake email from Cryptopia:

Subject: Cryptopia Claims: Notice to register claim before soft cut-off date


Notice to account holders
Cryptopia Limited (in Liquidation) – Important Notice for Account Holders to register claims before soft cut-off date
1. The liquidators of Cryptopia Limited (in liquidation) provide this notice to account holders (You) about the need to register your claim in the Cryptopia claims portal by 31 March 2025 (the Soft Cut-off date). Note this soft cut-off only applies to those who remain unregistered on the claims portal, if you have at least registered an account on the claims portal this cut-off will not be applicable to you.

Background
2. In January 2019, the Cryptopia exchange was hacked.  Cryptopia closed after the hack, re-opened for a short period, and was then placed into liquidation in May 2019.
3. On 8 April 2020, the High Court of New Zealand held that Cryptopia held the cryptocurrency on trust for the benefit of account holders.  A separate trust was held to exist in respect of each coin type.
4. The liquidators have undertaken significant work in securing, reconciling and administering the cryptocurrency held on trust for account holders (Cryptocurrency).  On 31 July 2023 the liquidators filed an application with the High Court for directions as to distribution to account holders.  Judgment was given on 1 March 2024 by Justice Palmer.  The orders can be found [here].

Distribution process
5.The liquidators will conduct a phased distribution process.

Interim Distribution
6.The liquidators have already undertaken a distribution to a subset of account holders.  In August 2024, account holders who had registered and accepted their balance in the BTC and DOGE trusts with a holding of more than NZD200 were invited to participate in the Interim Distribution. Actual distributions began in December 2024.  The liquidators distributed a maximum of 90% of those account holders' cryptocurrency holdings. Cryptocurrency was transferred via a wallet-to-wallet transfer.

Phase One Distribution
7. This phase is open to all eligible account holders.  To be eligible for a distribution an account holder must:
(a) Be in a trust (coin type) that has sufficient value.
(b) Have an account balance equivalent to or greater than their cost allocation.  
(c) Have registered their claim in the Cryptopia claims portal before 31 March 2025.
(d) Have completed identity verification and completed the balance acceptance / dispute process in the Cryptopia claims portal.

8. Eligible account holders will, after 31 March 2025 receive a notice in the Cryptopia claims portal advising them of the amount that will be deducted from each of their holdings for trust administration costs.  Eligible account holders will then receive a distribution of their holdings, less a deduction of allocated trust administration costs.  Distribution will be done via a wallet-to-wallet transfer.  

Effect of not registering by 31 March 2025
9. If as an account holder you have not registered your claim in the Cryptopia claims portal by 31 March 2025, then:
(e) The liquidators can proceed as if you are not a beneficiary, per orders from the New Zealand High Court.  
(f) Cryptocurrency that cannot be attributed to an account holder who has registered a claim in the Cryptopia claims portal will be considered unclaimed holdings.  
(g) After 31 March 2025, the liquidators will use any unclaimed holdings in a trust to cover trust administration costs for that trust.  Eligible account holders will only be allocated trust administration costs if there is not sufficient value in the unclaimed holdings to bear all administration costs of the trust.  

10. Nothing prevents claims from being received, considered and resolved after the passing of 31 March 2025.  If you, as an account holder, register a claim after 31 March 2025 you would still receive a distribution, but only if there is still cryptocurrency in the relevant trust(s) after trust administration costs have been removed.  It is possible that, if you do not register your claim, some or all of your cryptocurrency will be used to cover trust administration costs and may not be available to be distributed to you.    

Phase Two Distribution
11. The Final Cut-Off Date for all claims will be 30 September 2025.  After this date, the liquidators will wind up the trusts.

12. At this time, the liquidators may be able to conduct a further distribution if:
(h) There are account holders who have started the claims process but abandoned it.  
(i) Trust administration costs are less than anticipated, and the trusts will need to be reimbursed.
(j) The liquidators are able to recover some of the Cryptocurrency stolen in the January 2019 hack.

13. The liquidators will issue a further notice to account holders closer to the time.

Distribution details
Cryptocurrency Entitlement Date
14. The entitlement of each account holder to your respective Cryptocurrency is calculated as at 14 May 2019.

Review process
15. There is a review process available for account holders who wish to dispute their balance.

16. You may make a claim with supporting evidence.  The liquidators may accept that claim.  If the liquidators reject the claim in whole or in part, the liquidators must prepare a written statement of reasons for doing so and send it to the account holder (you) within 20 days.

17. If you are dissatisfied with the liquidators' decision, you may, at any time up until the final cut-off date of 30 September 2025, request a review to determine if the decision should be reversed or varied.

18. Details of the review process (which has been sanctioned by orders of the High Court) will be available in the Cryptopia claims portal.

19. This review process does not extinguish your legal right to prove your claim in the New Zealand High Court.

 Low / no value trusts & low account balances

20. The liquidators will not make distributions for coins in trusts that have no or low realisable value and cannot bear all of the costs of trust administration.  The liquidators will assess realisable value of each trust first at 31 March 2025 before the Phase One Distribution, and will continuously review realisable values before making distributions.

Countries where it is unlawful to hold or transact cryptocurrencies

21. If you live in a country where it is or may be unlawful to own, hold or transact cryptocurrencies, then the liquidators will not make distributions to you in a cryptocurrency.  Instead, in order to receive a distribution, you will be required to provide details of a bank account.  The liquidators will pay you a fiat currency equivalent value of your entitlement, less any additional costs associated with paying you in fiat currency.  Before payment is made to you, additional information may be required from you to satisfy the liquidators' legal obligations under New Zealand's laws, including its sanctions and anti-money laundering and countering funding of terrorism laws.  

Post-appointment deposits

22. Deposits of cryptocurrency were made to Cryptopia wallet addresses after the appointment of liquidators and while the exchange was offline.  Those deposits have not been swept into Cryptopia's wallets and do not form part of the cryptocurrencies held on trust.

23. If cryptocurrency was deposited to your deposit address/account after the date of liquidation (14 May 2019), please contact the liquidators' customer service with proof of the deposit and your payment details.  Once the liquidators have verified the deposit, we will arrange for the deposit to be distributed to you.  Transaction costs will be deducted from the amount deposited.

24. Please note that the liquidators are not required to take any other steps to return post-appointment deposits, and post-appointment deposits will only be made to eligible account holders

Claims Portal
Customer Service Portal

For other information on the Liquidation process refer to the link below:

Dedicated Information page

Fake website (cryptopia.co[.]nz) used to steal information:

Cryptopia email scam fake website (cryptopia.co.nz)

Instant automatic malware removal:

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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"
Example phishing email impersonating a major brand
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"
Example email with a fake invoice attachment
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"
Example sextortion email demanding bitcoin payment
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"
Example fake Norton or McAfee subscription renewal email
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"
Example fake account suspension email
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"
Example fake DHL/USPS/FedEx delivery notification
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"
Example fake Microsoft or Apple tech support alert email
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"
Example advance-fee or 419 scam email
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)
Example business email compromise wire-transfer request

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 → ReportReport 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+DelLast 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/resetRestore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

Edge: edge://settings/reset. Then edge://settings/content/notifications.

Firefox: about:supportRefresh 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:
  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 often send the same email to numerous recipients, hoping that a few will fall victim to their scheme. These emails are usually impersonal and generic, without any tailored details.

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

If scammers have gained access to your login credentials, change the affected passwords immediately. If you are unable to access your account, reach out to the support team for assistance in resolving the issue.

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

The probability of malware infection from an email attachment depends on the file type and user actions. For example, opening a malicious .exe file can result in instant infection, while harmful MS Office documents become dangerous only when the user enables macros.

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

Opening an email is generally safe. Infections happen only when the recipient clicks on malicious links or opens harmful attachments in the email.

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

Combo Cleaner is effective at detecting and removing most known malware. However, to eliminate advanced threats that may be lurking deep within the system, running a full system scan is necessary.

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Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas

Expert security researcher, professional malware analyst

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats.

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