How to identify scams like "Court Order Against Your Internet Traffic"

What is "Court Order Against Your Internet Traffic" scam?

Our team has examined the email and found that it is a scam posing as an official message regarding a court order. Everything claimed in this email is untrue. The scammers behind it likely aim to steal money and (or) sensitive information from recipients. This email should be ignored.

More about the "Court Order Against Your Internet Traffic" scam email

The email impersonates the Nepal Police and claims to be an official court order from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It alleges that the recipient is involved in viewing, possessing, or distributing illegal material and threatens serious legal consequences if the recipient does not respond within 24 hours.

The email includes formal titles, technical terms, and mentions forensic tools to appear legitimate and urgent. However, its true purpose is to scare the recipient into replying. Typically, fraudsters use such emails to obtain personal information (e.g., login credentials or financial details) or extract money.

They may send phishing links or fake payment pages to capture card details or try to trick recipients into paying "fines" or other fees. Either way, this is a scam email and it should not be responded to.

Conclusion

This email is a scam that uses threats and pressure to trick recipients into transferring money or disclosing personal information. It is not legitimate and should be ignored. Responding or providing any details can lead to financial loss, identity theft, or further scams. Sometimes, emails of this kind can be used to distribute malware.

Examples of similar scams are "Compensation For Those Struggling With Poverty", "Internet Crime Complaint Center Email Scam", and "You Visited Some Hacked Websites With Exploit".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Cybercriminals can distribute malware via email by sending infected Office documents, script files, PDFs, ZIP or RAR archives, executable files (.exe), or including other attachments. The malware typically activates when the recipient opens the file or takes other steps (e.g., enables macros in a malicious document).

Emails may also include links to malicious or fake websites. Visiting these sites can lead to malware being downloaded automatically or deceive the user into manually downloading and running it.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Do not open attachments or click links in emails or messages that are unexpected, irrelevant, or from unknown senders. Use dependable security software and run regular system scans. Do not click ads, pop-ups, or suspicious links on unsafe websites, and never permit them to send notifications.

Always download software and files from trusted sources, like official websites or reputable app stores. Never use pirated programs, cracks, or key generators.

Appearance of the "Court Order Against Your Internet Traffic" scam email (GIF):

Text presented in the "Court Order Against Your Internet Traffic" email letter:

Subject: Official Message

Ref: No. 00929-36-08/YFM-GTI8/2025
Deputy Inspector Generals of Nepal Police
Sama Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

Official Court Order

Attn,

This is to inform you of the alleged Court Order against your Internet IP traffic by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) In Nepal, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is responsible for investigating cyber crime. The CIB has established a Cyber Crime Investigation Cell to investigate and prosecute cyber criminals. The government has also established a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to coordinate efforts to combat cyber crime cases and bringing cyber criminals to justice.

It is quite unfortunate to turn your official or private Internet to a
juvenile pornographic movie cyber.

* Viewing of pornography websites
* Possession of pornography videos/pictures
* Distribution of child/adult pornography contents to others

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) works in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in handling all complex and sensitive cases of cyber crime, especially when the victims are women and minor children.

Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art spider/crawling
digital software and equipment, having forensic capabilities such as
extraction of deleted data from hard drives and mobile phones, imaging
and hash value calculation, forensic servers and portable forensic tools for on-site examination, facility to extract data from latest Android or IOS.

Based on the above, it is extremely difficult for any victim to
consciously or unconsciously visit juvenile pornographic sites without
being digitally captured. More information or clarification on the Court Order will be made available to you upon receipt of your response within 24 hours; our office operates 24 hours / 7 days.
Be assured that serious legal action will be taken against you if you
fail to respond to this message.

Regards,
Tek Prasad Rai
Deputy Inspector Generals of Nepal Police
Sama Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

Other examples of emails from "Court Order Against Your Internet Traffic" spam campaign:

Sample 1:

Text presented within:

Subject: Cyber Crime Inquiry – Action Required

Cyber Crime Cell/Computer Center
Police Headquarters,
MSO Building, JP Estate, New Delhi 1100
Ref: No. 39724-34-01/ICB-IPHQ/2026

OFFICIAL COURT ORDER

This is an official court order notice issued under the authority of the Cyber Crime Cell, Police Headquarters, New Delhi.

Credible information has been recorded regarding unlawful activities linked to an IP address associated with you, constituting offence's under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The matter is under active investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in coordination with Cybercrime Units and other enforcement agencies. Preliminary findings indicate involvement in the access, transmission, or dissemination of prohibited digital content, including material involving money laundering, adults and minors—classified as a serious cognizable offence.

You are hereby directed to submit a written explanation, provide all relevant supporting evidence, and extend full cooperation to investigating authorities.

Failure to respond within forty-eight (48) hours will result in immediate legal action without further notice, including penal proceedings under applicable laws.

Treat this matter with utmost urgency.

Best regards,
Ritambra Prakash (ACP/CB)
For Deputy Commissioner of Police
Cyber Crime Cell, Police Headquarters, New Delhi
Ref: 39724-34-01/ICB-IPHQ/2026

Sample 2:

Text presented within:

Subject: Official Court Order

Ref: Case #12-83/INFH-TGJ3/26
Intelligence Bureau (IB),
35, S.P. Marg (Sardar Patel Marg),
New Delhi-110021.

Attention,

We brought to your attention this very disturbing issues. Indian Intelligence Bureau, Department of Research and Analysis Wing are hereby informing you of the alleged order against your Internet IP and devices.

It has come to our attention that you have been in possession of material that depicts minors and engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This is a serious violation of federal and state laws.

* Viewing of pornography websites.
* Possession of pornography videos/pictures.
* Distribution of child/adult pornography contents to others.

Our efforts to personally contact you were previously ignored so we decided to contact you again. You will definitely face the consequences if you ignore this message again.

It is quite unfortunate to turn your official or private Internet to a juvenile pornographic movie cyber.
The Central Bureau of Investigation works in partnership with the Police Cybercrime Special Units in handling all complex and sensitive cases of cybercrime, especially when the victims are women and minor children.

Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art spider/crawling digital software and equipment, having forensic capabilities such as extraction of deleted data from hard drives and mobile phones, imaging and hash value calculation, forensic servers and portable forensic tools for on-site examination, facility to extract data from latest Android or IOS as well as Chinese phones.

Based on the above, it is extremely difficult for any victim to consciously or unconsciously visit juvenile pornographic sites without being digitally captured. More information or clarification on the court order will be made available to you upon receipt of your response within 24 hours; our office operates 24 hours / 7 days.

Be assured that serious legal action will be taken against you if you fail to respond to this message.

We await your immediate reply.

Sincerely,
Tapan Deka
Intelligence Bureau (IB),
35, S.P. Marg (Sardar Patel Marg),
New Delhi-110021.

Sample 3:

Text presented within:

Subject: COURT ORDER TO YOU

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION INCORPORATION WITH WORLDWIDE POLICE
THE INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS INCLUDE LEGATE OFFICES AND SUB-OFFICES IN YOUR COUNTRY
PROSECUTOR OVER MINORS AND OFFENSES RELATED TO CYBER CRIME

DECREE FROM COURT.
We have detected your Internet IP address irregularities and activities. It is quite unfortunate to turn your official or private Internet into a juvenile pornographic movie cyber, especially when the victims are women and minor children.

Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art spider/crawling digital software and equipment, having forensic capabilities such as extraction of deleted data from hard disks and mobile phones; imaging and hash value calculation; forensic servers; and portable forensic tools for on-site examination and the facility to extract data from the latest Android or iOS as well as original phones.

Based on the above, it is extremely difficult for any victim to consciously or unconsciously visit juvenile pornographic sites without being digitally captured.

Penalties range from 3 years to life imprisonment (physical or digital) for sexual photographs, sexual videos or recordings, using materials for sexual abuse, or physical maltreatment, which you are found guilty of.
(Possession viewing of child pornography)
(Pedophilia and Exploitation of Minors)

Legal Considerations

All procedures will be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and due process as stipulated under the applicable legal provisions.

Be assured that serious legal action will be taken against you if you fail to respond to this notice within 48 hours from receipt of this mail because the review will proceed based on the information currently available.
More information or clarification on the court order will be made available to you upon receipt of your response within 48 hours. Our office operates 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Sincerely,
Director, National Crime Records Bureau
Email: fboidept@freemail.hu

Sample 4:

Text presented within:

Subject: DECREE FROM COURT

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IN COLLABORATION WITH WORLDWIDE POLICE

THE INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS INCLUDE LEGATE OFFICES AND SUB-OFFICES IN YOUR COUNTRY

PROSECUTOR OVER MINORS AND OFFENSES RELATED TO CYBER CRIME

DECREE FROM COURT.

We have detected your Internet IP address activities. It is quite unfortunate to turn your official or private Internet into a juvenile pornographic movie cyber, especially when the victims are women and minor children.

Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the art spider/crawling digital software and equipment, having forensic capabilities such as extraction of deleted data from hard disks and mobile phones, imaging and hash value calculation, forensic servers, and portable forensic tools for on-site examination, and the facility to extract data from the latest Android or iOS as well as Original phones.

Based on the above, it is extremely difficult for any victim to consciously or unconsciously visit juvenile pornographic sites without being digitally captured.

More information or clarification on the court order will be made available to you upon receipt of your response within 24 hours. Our office operates 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Be assured that serious legal action will be taken against you if you fail to respond to this notice within 12 hours of receipt. To forewarned is forearmed And your Internet connection will be disconnected after 3 days waited

Sincerely,
Director, National Crime Records Bureau
Email: directorofficer2004@atomicmail.io

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"

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 a scam email?

The scam email was sent because cybercriminals likely obtained your email address from a data breach, a fake site, or other means. These scams target large numbers of people (they are not personal), hoping that some will respond or take other actions.

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

If login details were disclosed in response to the scam email, promptly change all related passwords. In other cases (e.g., if credit card details or ID card information was shared), notify the relevant authorities.

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

Opening a malicious file can cause an infection. The likelihood depends on the file type and what the malware needs to run. For instance, executable files can infect a system immediately when opened, while documents usually require the user to perform extra steps to activate the malware.

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

Cryptocurrency transactions are almost impossible to trace, so recovery is unlikely.

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

Reading the email alone does not cause infection, the danger arises only from opening attachments or clicking on links.

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

Combo Cleaner can identify and remove most known malware. However, because advanced threats may be deeply embedded in the system, performing a full system scan is recommended to ensure complete protection.