How to spot fake emails like "Covid-19 Response Fund"

What kind of scam is "Covid-19 Response Fund"?

We have inspected the email and concluded that it is an advance-fee scam mixed with elements of an inheritance scam. Usually, scammers use these deceptive messages to trick recipients into transferring money to them and (or) disclosing personal information. Emails of this type should be ignored and never replied to.

More about the "Covid-19 Response Fund" scam email

This scam email claims to be from Ms. Annabel Munah, a Permanent Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). It informs the recipient that they are eligible for a $10 million COVID-19 response fund for medium and large-scale business owners.

The email states that the UNCDF, in collaboration with the IMF and the World Bank, has approved these funds to support entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic. In order to apply, recipients are instructed to pay a $500 registration fee and submit personal identification.

Additionally, the email claims that another applicant with the same surname as the recipient has died without completing the registration process and offers the recipient an opportunity to "replace" the deceased applicant and claim part of the funds.

The goal of this scam is to trick recipients into sending payments for fake fees and providing personal information, which scammers may misuse for fraud or identity theft. Victims of such scams never receive any money. Such emails should be ignored to avoid the potential risks.

Similar scam emails in general

Scams like these often include promises of large sums of money and appear urgent to steal money and (or) personal information. Recipients should always verify the legitimacy of such emails and never pay upfront fees for promised funds. It is important to note that scammers sometimes can try to trick recipients into infecting their computers.

Examples of similar scams are "Reliable Trustee Email Scam", "Transfer On Death Email Scam", and "Transfer Money Abroad Email Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals distribute malware through email by embedding harmful files or links within deceptive messages. Some attachments can immediately trigger an infection upon opening, while others require user interaction—such as enabling macros in a compromised Office document—to activate the malicious payload.

Common file types used in malware distribution include PDFs, MS Office documents, script files, archives, and executables. When emails contain malicious links, clicking them can initiate an automatic malware download or direct users to fraudulent sites that trick them into manually installing harmful software.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Exercise caution with unexpected or irrelevant emails from unknown senders, especially those containing links or attachments. Only download software and files from trusted sources, such as official websites or reputable app stores. Do not trust advertisements, links, pop-ups, buttons, etc., on dubious sites.

Never agree to receive notifications from suspicious websites. Keep your operating system and applications up to date, and regularly scan your device with a reliable security tool. If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

The appearance of the scam email (GIF):

Text presented in the "Covid-19 Response Fund" email letter:

Subject: $10 million UNCDF Palliative

From the desk of Ms Annabel Munah,
Permanent Secretary,
United Nations Capital Development Fund
10 Furnival St, Holborn,
London EC4A 1AB, United Kingdom.

Subject: Last phase UNCDF Covid-19 Response Fund for medium & large scale business owners

Dear proposed UNCDF beneficiary,

SUBJECT: RE: 3rd Phase of UNCDF COVID-19 Response Fund 2023 for
medium & large scale Business owners(up to ($1 million)
capital/investment base and above).

The 3rd wave of corona-virus impacted negatively. To help address
challenges facing the business community, the UNCDF launched a special
3rd phase of covid-19 Response Fund of $10 million each, for medium & large scale business owners.

The UNCDF Executive Director of United Nations in this region, in conjunction with IMF
and World bank, collectively Approved and signed the Release and
Transfer of $10 million UNCDF benefits to individuals/entrepreneurs, being the certified and authorized
capital investment palliative/Stimulus for medium & large scale entrepreneurs.

Eligibility:

(1). Participation is open to entrepreneurs with up to
$1 million capital/investment base and above in any UN country.
(2). Priority is given to early applicants with innovative
products/services and business ideas.

Application Process:

(a). Elligible applicants must register with $500(registration fee) and a valid Identification means(cards)
(b). Application forms are given to entrepreneurs to fill and return.
(c). All submissions are done in English.
(d). All Submissions are through online.
(e). Applications must be submitted before deadline.
(7). Applicants should state their occupations and business names.

Rules and Guidelines:

(i). Payment of $10 million to successful Applicants/entrepreneurs are
made by UNCDF accredited banks.
(ii). The procedures are confidential and only for the applicant/beneficiary.
(iii). Applications are not transferable.

However one of the applicants who bear the same surname with you died without registration.

As the Permanent Secretary, I am the only one who knew about the death and the file.
So I am contacting you to come forward with your particulars so that you will replace the deceased UNCDF applicant and
receive the UNCDF $10 million UNCDF benefits for our personal benefits.  As the originator, I shall be entitled to 45% of the Benefits, As an investor (entrepreneur/beneficiary), you have will 45% of the benefits. 10% is earmarked to settle expenses.

I await your positive and prompt compliance.
Reply to: annabelmunahgmail.com

yours sincerely,

Ms. Amal Pepple
Permanent Secretary
The United Nations Capital Development Fund
10 Furnival St, Holborn,
London EC4A 1AB, UK.

Other examples of emails from "Covid-19 Response Fund" spam campaign:

Sample 1:

Text presented within:

Subject: Last phase United Nations Association (UNA-UK) of the UK Covid-19 Relief Fund for small & medium scale business owners

Because of the 3rd wave of corona-virus which impacted negatively on the business communities, the United Nations Association of the UK(UNA-UK) launched a special 5 million GBP 3rd phase Relief/palliative funds each to small & medium scale business owners in order to address the challenges facing the business communities.

The program:

ELIGIBILITY:

(a). Participation is open to entrepreneurs with up to 10,000 capital/investment base and above in any UN member country.

(b). Priority is given to early applicants with innovative products/services and business ideas.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

(a). Eligible applicants are to register with 500 (registration fee) and a valid ID card.

(b). Application forms are given to entrepreneurs to fill and return.

(c). All submissions are done in English.

(d). All Submissions are through online.

(e). Applications must be submitted before the deadline.

RULES AND GUIDELINES:

(a). Payment of 5 million to successful Applicants/entrepreneurs are

made by UNA-UK accredited banks.

(b). The procedures are confidential and only for the applicant/beneficiary.

(c). Applications are not transferable.

THE REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU (CONFIDENTIAL):

However, one of the applicants who has the same name as your died without registration and this created a vacancy. As the Executive Director, who knows about the details, I searched for immediate replacement and found your name & contact. I am contacting you to solicit your help to forward your info to the Office of the Directorate so that the Payment of the 5 million Business relief fund will be approved in your favour and the fund paid into your bank account for our investment benefits.

I look forward to your positive and prompt reply.

Note; this deal is 100% legal and risk-free.

Sincerely yours,
Ms. Carol Shutkever
Chairman of Finance
United Nations Association of the UK
3 Whitehall Ct, London SW1A 2EL, UK
Rwilfnb01@gmail.com
sjbloeu@gmail.com(direct).

Sample 2:

Text presented within:

SUBJECT: Last Phase of UNCDF COVID-19 Response Fund/Relief 2024 for
small and medium scale Business owners(GBP 10,000 to GBP 1 million)
capital/investment base and above).

Good day!

Hope you are safe from this pandemic troubling the world and her economic activities. My name is Rainer Gustav Hesse, I

am the United Nations Covid-19 cash Aid Payment Coordinator in the UK region. I want to inform you of the 3rd phase of

covid-19 payment, specially meant for small and medium business entrepreneurs/owners. Under this category, all

Applicants are entitled to receive an immediate payment of GBP 500,000 SME Relief Funds. Though you are not one of the

Applicants, but I have included your name as one of the Applicants because you have the same surname as a deceased

applicant, so that substitute him and receive the GBP 500,000 into your bank account as one of the Applicants. The

deceased applicant did not make registration before his death and was unqualified. So all you have to do is to register to

replace him and become the authentic qualified applicant. The proceeds will be of great benefits to you and I.

Note: It is confidential!!! It is 100% legal, it is 100% official and it is 100% risk-free.

Feel free to contact me immediately you receive this email on my private email(gustav-rainer@tutanota.de)
I await your immediate and positive reply.

Sincerely,

Mr. Gustav Rainer,
Director Debt & Relief Management
on Covid-19 Response Funds
United Nations Capital Development Fund(UNCDF)
3 Whitehall Court, London, SW1A 2EL
gustavrainer@yahoo.com

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Types of malicious emails:

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

Credential theft Phishing emails

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

Common subject lines

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

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

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

Common subject lines

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

Extortion Sextortion emails

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

Common subject lines

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

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Remote access Tech support scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

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

Common subject lines

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

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

---

1

Check the sender's actual address, not the display name

30 sec

The display name (the human-readable part) is trivial to fake. Always check the full address that comes after it. Common red flags:

• Domain mismatch - service@paypa1.com, support@micros0ft-help.com, look-alike domains using digits or extra hyphens
• Free-email impersonation - any "official" message from a bank, courier, or platform sent from a @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @yahoo.com address
• Reply-To mismatch - the From address looks legitimate but Reply-To points somewhere completely different

Why this matters

Real companies own their domains and send mail from them. A "DHL" message from a Gmail address is never legitimate, regardless of how convincing the body looks.

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

Scams almost always rush you. The point is to make you act before you think. Treat any of the following as a strong signal:

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Final notice" / "Immediate action required"
• "Dear Customer" or "Dear User" instead of your real name
• Threats of fines, account closure, legal action, or arrest
• Promises of refunds, prizes, or money you didn't earn
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in messages claiming to come from a major brand

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

On a desktop, hover the mouse over the link without clicking. The real destination shows in the bottom-left status bar of your browser or email client. On a phone, long-press the link to preview the URL.

• Real Microsoft, PayPal, or bank links go to those exact domains, not redirects through unrelated sites
• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co) hide the real destination - never click them in unsolicited mail
• The visible link text and the actual URL must match - mismatches are the single biggest phishing red flag

Pro tip

When in doubt, don't click the link. Open a new browser tab and type the company's address yourself, then log in normally. If there really is an issue with your account, you'll see it there.

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

If you didn't ask for the file, don't open it - even if it appears to come from someone you know. Categories that should never be opened from email without verification through another channel:

• .exe, .scr, .iso, .img, .vbs, .bat - executables, never legitimate attachments
• .docx, .xlsx, .pptx with "Enable macros" prompts - the macros run the malware
• .pdf with "Click here to view" buttons - usually a phishing redirect, not a real document
• .zip, .rar, .7z archives, especially password-protected ones - the password defeats the email scanner

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

---

If you only received the email and didn't reply, click, or open anything, the steps below are all you need. Your computer is not infected.

5

Don't reply, don't click "unsubscribe"

30 sec

Replying confirms your address is real and monitored, which gets you added to higher-value scam lists. The "unsubscribe" link in a scam message is rarely a real opt-out - it usually leads to a phishing page or downloads a tracking pixel.

Instead, mark the message as junk or phishing inside your email client (this trains the spam filter), then block the sender.

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

• Gmail: open the message → ⋮ menu → Report phishing
• Outlook / Outlook.com: ⋯ menu → Report → Report phishing
• Apple Mail / iCloud: Move to Junk, then forward to reportphishing@apple.com

Forward or report to authorities:

• International: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• United States: ic3.gov (FBI)
• United Kingdom: forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS); for financial loss report at reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
• Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
• Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
• EU: your national CERT - find yours via the ENISA CSIRT map

After reporting, delete the email and empty the Trash folder so you don't accidentally open it later.

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

---

Pick the step below that matches what you did. If multiple apply, work through them in the order they appear - the steps are arranged from lowest to highest risk.

7

You only clicked a link (didn't enter anything or download anything)

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

Close the page right away. Don't enter any information, even if the page looks legitimate.

• Clear your browser cache and cookies for the last hour - Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del → Last hour → check Cookies and Cached files
• Run a quick scan with Combo Cleaner in case the page tried to drop a file silently (drive-by download)
• Update your browser to the latest version - most drive-by exploits target outdated browsers
• Watch for new browser pop-ups, redirects, or unfamiliar notifications over the next few days

Why this matters

Modern browsers block most drive-by attacks, but a single click on a phishing page can still be enough on an outdated browser or unpatched plugin. A quick scan catches anything that landed silently.

8

You opened an attachment or downloaded a file - run a full malware scan

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

Opening an attachment is the most common path to actual infection. Treat the system as compromised until the scans below come back clean. Work through these sub-steps in order:

8.1Disconnect from the network

Unplug Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. If the attachment was an info-stealer or remote-access trojan, this stops it from sending data out or receiving commands. Keep the network off until you've booted into Safe Mode (next step) - you'll reconnect there briefly to download the scanners.

8.2Boot into Safe Mode with Networking, then download the scanners

Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: hold Shift, click Power → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in 8.4) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in 8.5). Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers, so most malware can't auto-run while you're getting the tools. Save both installers to your Desktop.

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads - this is what catches rootkits and bootkits.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Install Combo Cleaner and run a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete fully, review what it found, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner will quarantine known trojans and remove their persistence in the registry.

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe). The binary expires every 10 days, which means every download has the latest signatures. Run a full scan after Combo Cleaner to catch anything one engine alone might miss.

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

Many email-borne trojans drop adware that hijacks browsers. Reset each browser you use:

Chrome: chrome://settings/reset → Restore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

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

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

8.7Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Then run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and update browsers and applications.

Important

If the scans keep finding new threats on each run, or files reappear after deletion, you may have a deeper compromise that needs a clean Windows reinstall. See pcrisk's full manual malware removal guide for the extended procedure (Process Explorer, Autoruns, hosts file inspection).

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

Assume the attacker has your password and is using it right now. Speed matters.

1. Change the password from a different, known-clean device (your phone is fine if it's not infected). Don't reuse the old password anywhere else.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
3. Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
4. Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
5. Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
6. Update security questions - the attacker may have seen the answers in your account profile.

Why email comes first

If you only have time to change one password, change your primary email password - it's the recovery hub for every other account. An attacker who controls your email can reset everything else.

10

You sent money or shared bank, card, or ID details

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

Time is the single biggest factor in recovering money. Banks can sometimes recall a wire or reverse a card transaction within the first few hours.

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of the card, not any number from the scam email. Ask them to freeze the card, reverse the transaction if possible, and flag the account for fraud monitoring.
2. If you sent a wire transfer or used a money-transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Wise), call them directly and request a recall. Some can be reversed within minutes if reported fast.
3. If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
4. File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
5. File with the right authority for your country:
   • US: ic3.gov + reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • UK: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
   • Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
   • Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
   • EU: your national CERT or police cybercrime unit
6. Set fraud alerts on all major credit bureaus if you shared any ID details. US: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion (Cifas Protective Registration is a stronger option).
7. Save all evidence - the original email (with full headers), screenshots of the fake site, transaction records, any phone numbers or chat logs.

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

---

11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Scammers send identical emails to thousands of recipients, hoping to deceive someone. These messages are always (or at least, in most cases) generic and impersonal.

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

Contact the relevant authorities to report the scam. Contact your bank if you have disclosed your credit card details or similar information.

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

The risk of a system being compromised depends on the type of file. Executable files can trigger infections instantly when opened, whereas documents may require additional actions—such as enabling macros—before the malware can take effect.

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

Unfortunately, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, meaning once the funds are sent, they cannot be recovered.

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

Simply opening an email is harmless, but clicking links or opening attachments in suspicious emails can expose your system to malware.

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

Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware, but advanced threats may be deeply embedded. A full system scan is essential to find and eliminate hidden infections.