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Introduction – Email fraud threat are rising daily. Learn from my real experience of a fake intellectual property email scam and protect yourself from such frauds.
In today’s world, where everything has shifted online, fraud has also evolved. Now, no work is untouched by fraud. Whether you are running a business, making websites, selling products, or even studying online, fraudsters are always ready to trap innocent people. I am sharing my own recent experience so that you stay alert and do not fall prey to such fraud.
I am a website creator. I created my website adaptivelifeguide.com to help people with mobility challenges and disabilities. Until April 30, 2025, I ran Facebook ads to promote it. After that, I stopped running ads completely as I was focusing on writing good articles instead of paid promotion.
However, something strange happened on 1st July 2025.
The Fraud Email I Received
On that day, I got an email from oliviojy@gmail.com. On my email id info@adaptivelifeguide.com The subject line said – “Unauthorized Use of Intellectual Property in Ads”. The email claimed to be from Junglee Music Company and mentioned that I had used their copyrighted music in my ads without permission. They asked me to download a file to check the notice and warned that I had to reply within a week or legal action would be taken.
At first glance, it looked genuine. The office address was correct, and the language was formal. But as an aware internet user, I checked a few things:
The email was sent from Gmail, not from an official domain like @junglee.com. Big companies never use free email services to send legal notices.
The email mentioned I had run ads on Google Ads, but I do not have any Google Ads account.
The attachment was not a PDF, even though the file name showed it as a PDF notice.
This raised my suspicion, but I wanted to see what exactly it was. I downloaded the file. To my surprise, instead of a .pdf file, it was a .exe setup file. This clearly indicated that it was not a notice but a software program.
I Ran the File to Check
Out of curiosity and to test how it works, I ran the file. It installed immediately, but nothing visible happened. There was no window, no interface, no installation success message.
I knew something was wrong. I opened Task Manager to check the running processes. There I saw a process running with the same icon as the downloaded file, and its name was “pdfreader.”
This name sounds safe – like a normal PDF reader program. But think carefully – why would an official notice come as a setup file disguised as a PDF reader?
What Was Its Intention?
Most likely, this program was designed to:
Scan all PDF files on my computer such as bank statements, credit card bills, insurance documents, ID proofs, property papers, and more.
Steal sensitive data silently without the user knowing anything.
Send stolen data to the fraudster who can misuse it for identity theft, financial fraud, or blackmail.
Since I do have antivirus installed , It could not scan the file immediately. However, as a precaution, I uninstalled the program quickly. I also deleted the downloaded file and emptied the Recycle Bin.
Another Similar Fraud Email
Just a few days later, on 10th July 2025, I received a similar email claiming to be from Moser Baer company stating copyright violation in ads. But I knew that Moser Baer closed in 2018. Also, this email was sent from a Gmail address.
These repeated attempts showed that fraudsters are targeting website owners, businesses, and digital creators with fake legal threats to scare them into installing their malware.
Lessons Learned: How To Stay Safe
This incident has taught me some important lessons about online safety, which I want to share with you:
1. Check Email Sender Address Carefully
Official notices from companies will never come from Gmail, Yahoo, or other free email services. They always come from their own domains like @companyname.com.
2. Never Download Suspicious Files
Legal notices are sent as PDFs or direct emails, not as .exe setup files. If any attachment asks you to install something, it is definitely a fraud.
3. Verify The Company
If you receive any legal threat email:
Search the company’s official contact details from Google, not from the email.
Call their legal or corporate communication team to confirm.
If it is real, they will guide you officially.
4. Use Antivirus
An antivirus would immediately detect such malicious setup files. Keeping your system protected helps avoid dangerous software installations.
5. Understand Their Psychology
Fraudsters use fear tactics. Words like legal action, unauthorized use, copyright violation, and account suspension are used to scare users into quick action without thinking.
Always calm down and analyze logically.
6. Check The File Extension
If an email claims to send a PDF but the download is a .exe file, it is a clear sign of malware.
7. Uninstall Unknown Programs
If you accidentally install such files, immediately uninstall them and delete all related files from Downloads, Program Files, and Temp folders.
8. Monitor Bank Accounts
After any malware incident, keep an eye on your bank accounts for unauthorized transactions and change passwords if necessary.
Why Are Such Frauds Increasing?
In today’s digital world, where payments, business operations, and communications have moved online, cybercriminals are targeting everyone:
Website owners
Freelancers
Students
Small business owners
Digital marketers
Fraud is no longer limited to OTP scams or fake phone calls. It has entered professional spaces, making it hard to differentiate between genuine communication and fraud.
Final Words
This is my personal experience, and I am sharing it so that you do not become a victim of such fraud. If I had blindly trusted the email and entered my passwords or kept that malware installed for long, it could have scanned my entire data and caused huge financial or personal loss.
In the end, remember –
In the digital world, trust only what you can verify.
Stay alert. Never act in haste when any email threatens you with legal action or account suspension. Analyze the details, consult experts, and keep your devices protected with strong antivirus and awareness.
If you found this article useful, share it with your friends and family. Let’s create a safer digital world together by spreading awareness against fraud.