Prevent being scammed by the 'On This Day I Hacked Your OS' email

What is "On this day I hacked your OS"?

"On this day I hacked your OS" is an email scam, which uses a blackmailing tactic called "sextortion" - it extorts money from users via threats to expose evidence of their 'sexual activity'. This scam claims to have obtained audio and visual content via the device's camera and microphone.

It informs users that this evidence will be sent to all of their contacts, unless a certain sum in transferred to the account of cyber criminals behind the rogue email. Note that these claims are false and no such compromising material exists. Emails of this type should be ignored.

The email entitled "Security alert! Review the sign-in details." states that the users' OS (Operating Systems) have been hacked and their email accounts are within the full control of cyber criminals. They claim to have access to users' address books, browsing history, file inventory, contacts' email addresses and telephone numbers.

Furthermore, users are informed that they have been under observation for several months due to an infection from a compromised adult-site, which they have visited previously. The virus then supposedly gave the criminals full access and control of the device, including webcam and microphone.

The anti-virus software was unable to detect this infection, since the malware uses a driver and its signature is updated every four hours. Through this alleged hacking, video/audio and screen recordings were made of users "satisfying" themselves.

The cyber criminals demand 771 USD to be transferred to their Bitcoin crypto-wallet, otherwise this humiliating material will be sent to all users' contacts. If payment is not made within 48 hours, the compromising video and content watched during the recording will apparently be sent to their contacts.

Users are promised that once the transaction is made, the video will be deleted and they will not be disturbed by these individuals again. The 48-hour countdown starts from the moment the email is opened. The message informs users that filing any type of complaint will not aid them, since the email and Bitcoin addresses cannot be traced.

The message ends with a warning informing users not to share this email with anyone, as this will result in immediate distribution of the compromising video. As mentioned, "On this day I hacked your OS" is a scam and none of the alleged content exists.

Additionally, the cyber criminals behind this scam have not infected your system - no evidence of sexual activity could have been acquired and the device's integrity has not been compromised. Never trust emails such as "On this day I hacked your OS" and simply ignore them.

Scam emails are distributed using massive scale spam campaigns. Various tactics can be employed, not just "sextortion".

They range from "import" alerts to "prize" announcements. "Hacker Who Has Access To Your Operating System", "Your Device Was Infected With My Private Malware", and "WannaCry Hacker Group" are a few examples of other scams similar to "On this day I hacked your OS".

Typically, they involve threats to distribute compromising videos/screenshots of the victim, unless ransoms are paid. Cyber criminals prefer these payments to be made in digital currencies (e.g. cryptocurrencies, pre-paid vouchers, etc.), as these transactions are difficult/impossible to trace.

Note that the functions of these emails can differ - they can be used to proliferate ransomware and other malware.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Infections via spam campaigns are caused by opening attached files found within deceptive emails. These are often marked as "official", "important", "urgent" or similarly highlighted as priority mail. The infectious attachments come in various formats, such as archive (ZIP, RAR) and executable (.exe, .run) files, Microsoft Office and PDF documents, JavaScript, etc.

When these files are run, executed or otherwise opened, they begin downloading/installing malicious software. For example, MS Office documents ask users to enable macro commands (to enable editing). If allowed, they are triggered to infect systems.

How to avoid installation of malware

Do not read suspicious/irrelevant emails, especially those received from unknown senders. Attachments found in these messages must never be opened, since the files are the source of potential infections.

Use Microsoft Office versions released after year 2010, as they have a "Protected View" mode, which prevents dangerous documents from downloading/installing malware.

Download only from official and verified sources. P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting websites, third party downloaders and similar channels are classed as untrustworthy and should not be used. Untrusted download sources are more likely to offer content bundled with malicious software.

Programs should be activated and updated using functions/tools provided by genuine developers. Illegal activation tools ("cracks") and third party updaters are high-risk. Have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept up-to-date. Use this software to perform regular system scans and for the removal of detected threats.

If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "On this day I hacked your OS" email message:

Hello.

09/08/2019 - on this day I hacked your OS and got full access to your account ************

You can check it - I sent this message from your account.

After that, I made a full dump of your disk (I have all your address book, history of viewing sites, all files, phone numbers and addresses of all your contacts).

This means that I have full access to your device and accounts. I've been watching you for a few months now.
The fact is that you were infected with malware through an adult site that you visited. If you are not familiar with this, I will explain.
Virus gives me full access and control your devices.
This means that I can see everything on your screen, turn on the camera and microphone, but you do not know about it.
I also have access to all your contacts and all your correspondence.
Why your antivirus did not detect malware? answer: My malware uses the driver, I update its signatures every 4 hours so that your antivirus is silent.
I made a video showing how you satisfy yourself in the left half of the screen, and in the right half you see the video that you watched.

With one click of the mouse, I can send this video to all your emails and contacts.
If you want to prevent this, transfer the amount of $771 to my bitcoin address
(if you do not know how to do this, write to Google: "Buy Bitcoin").
My bitcoin address (BTC Wallet) is: 1Q2pVgd9YradB42risptr8tsydKrVDSD2A, 17fjtBvkQCMJduzZQB4GZtxJvxgXrceSMt, 1D1CJ5msCAzvc838x5ZmfNWVv6d94U5grH

After receiving the payment, I will delete the video and you will never hear me again. I give you 48 hours to pay.
I have a notice reading this letter, and the timer will work when you see this letter.
Filing a complaint somewhere does not make sense because this email cannot be tracked like my bitcoin address.
I do not make any mistakes.

If I find that you have shared this message with someone else, the video will be immediately distributed.

Appearance of a Polish version of "On This Day I Hacked Your OS" email scam:

Text presented within this email:

Pozdrawiam was!

Mam dla ciebie złe wieści.
02/01/2020 - w tym dniu włamałem się do twojego systemu operacyjnego i uzyskałem pełny dostęp do twojego konta ****.

Jak to zrobiłem:
Oprogramowanie routera, do którego podłączono Cię tego dnia w celu uzyskania dostępu do Internetu, miało lukę w zabezpieczeniach.
Najpierw zhakowałem ten router i umieściłem na nim mój złośliwy kod.
Po podłączeniu się do niego w celu uzyskania dostępu do Internetu mój trojan został zainstalowany w systemie operacyjnym urządzenia.

Potem zrobiłem pełną kopię twojego dysku (mam całą książkę adresową, historię przeglądania stron, wszystkie twoje pliki, numery telefonów i adresy wszystkich kontaktów).

Na początku chciałem zaszyfrować twoje urządzenie i poprosić o niewielką kwotę do odblokowania.
Ale przypadkowo widziałem witryny, które regularnie odwiedzasz. Jestem zszokowany twoimi ulubionymi zasobami.
Mówię o witrynach dla dorosłych.

Chcę powiedzieć - jesteś wielkim zboczeńcem. Masz nienormalną fantazję, której nie wszyscy zrozumieją poprawnie!

Potem wpadłem na to:
Zrobiłem zrzut ekranu z intymnej strony, na którym "cieszyłeś się"(wiesz o co mi chodzi, prawda?).
Zrobiłem zdjęcie twojej masturbacji (za pomocą aparatu na twoim urządzeniu), i w końcu połączyłem dwa zdjęcia:
masturbujesz się po lewej stronie i obiekt wzbudzenia po prawej stronie.
Świetna robota! Nie mam wątpliwości, że twoi przyjaciele lub znajomi będą zszokowani, jeśli to zobaczą.

Jestem głęboko przekonany, że nie chciałbyś nikomu pokazywać tych zdjęć.
Myślę, że 950€ to niewielka kwota za moje milczenie.
Ponadto - spędziłem nad tym dużo czasu!

Akceptuję pieniądze tylko w Bitcons.
Mój portfel BTC: 17Hni3UPjcS1BTKUwXFkJXoyF8oHwk7MiC

Nie wiesz, jak uzupełnić portfel Bitcoin?
W dowolnej wyszukiwarce napisz "jak uzupełnić portfel btc".
To łatwiejsze niż przelanie pieniędzy na kartę kredytową!

W przypadku płatności masz trochę więcej niż dwa dni (dokładnie 50 godzin).
Timer włączy się, gdy tylko otworzy się ten list. Tak, tak ... już się zaczęło!

Po dokonaniu płatności natychmiast zniszczę mojego wirusa i usuwa wszystkie pliki, które Cię narażą, a zapomnisz o tym nieprzyjemnym incydencie.
Pamiętaj, że jeśli nie otrzymam od ciebie powyższej kwoty, twoje urządzenie zostanie zablokowane, a wszystkie twoje kontakty otrzymają zdjęcia z twoją masturbacją.

Chcę, abyście zrozumieli powagę tej sytuacji:
- Nie próbuj znaleźć i zniszczyć mojego wirusa! (Wszystkie twoje dane są już przesłane na serwer zdalny).
- Nie próbuj się ze mną kontaktować (nie jest to możliwe, wysłałem ci ten e-mail z twojego zhakowanego konta).
- Różne usługi bezpieczeństwa nie pomogą, formatowanie dysku lub niszczenie urządzenia również nie pomoże, ponieważ dane są już na serwerze zdalnym.

P.S. Gwarantuję ci, że nie będę ci przeszkadzał po wypłacie, ponieważ nie jesteś jedyną osobą, z którą "pracuję".
To jest kod honoru hakera.

Od tej pory radzę korzystać z dobrych programów antywirusowych i aktualizować je regularnie (kilka razy dziennie)!

Nie bądź na mnie zły, każdy ma własną pracę.
Do widzenia

Another example of an email claiming that recipient's operating system has been hacked:

Text presented within:

Subject: LAST WARNING !!!

Hi,

This is the last warning

I hacked your operating system.

All personal data from your devices has been copied to my servers.

I have access to your messengers, social networks, emails, chat history and contact list.

My virus constantly updates signatures (it is driver-based) so it remains invisible to antivirus software.

While collecting information about you, I found out that you are a big fan of adult websites.

You really like to visit porn sites and watch dirty videos while having an orgasm.

I've already made a screen capture.

It's a montage of the pornographic video you were watching at the time and your masturbation.

Your face is perfectly visible.I don't think this kind of content will have a positive impact on your reputation.

I can send this video to everyone who knows you.

I also have no problem with making all of your personal information public on the Internet.

I think you know what I mean.

It would be a real disaster for you.

I could ruin your life forever.

I think you really don't want that to happen.

Let's solve it this way: you transfer me 1000 dollars (USD) (in bitcoin equivalent at the exchange rate at the moment of funds transfer), and I will immediately remove all this dirt from my servers.

After that we will forget about each other.

My bitcoin wallet for payment: bc1qky68gzr06k62my530ynehs64agyfkh99z8wfsd

If you do not know how to transfer money and what Bitcoin is. Use Google.

I give you 3 days to transfer the money.

The timer started automatically as soon as you opened the email.

I'll receive a notification about the opening of this email.

Do not try to complain anywhere, as there is no way to track the wallet, the mail from where the letter came, and is not tracked and created automatically, so there is no point in writing to me.

Do not try to contact the police and other security services, otherwise your data will be published.

Changing passwords in social networks, mail, device will not help you, because all the data is already downloaded to a cluster of my servers.

Good luck and don't do anything stupid. Think about your future.

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Types of malicious emails:

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

Credential theft Phishing emails

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

Common subject lines

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

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

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

Common subject lines

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

Extortion Sextortion emails

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

Common subject lines

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

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Remote access Tech support scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

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

Common subject lines

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

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

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

Common subject lines

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

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

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1

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

30 sec

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

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

Why this matters

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

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

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

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

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

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

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

Pro tip

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

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

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

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

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

---

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

5

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

30 sec

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

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

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

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

Forward or report to authorities:

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

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

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

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

7

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

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

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

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

Why this matters

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

8

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

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

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

8.1Disconnect from the network

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

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

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

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

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

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

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

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

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

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

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

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

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

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

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

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

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

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

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

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

Important

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

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

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

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

Why email comes first

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

10

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

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

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

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

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

---

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.