Unexpected Reservation Cancellation May Be Malware

"ClickFix" Is One of the Most Dangerous Scams We’re Seeing Right Now - and It Looks Completely Legit

Worse it's for sale on the dark web for about $5; a criminal buys it, starts sending it off in emails and when a victim falls for it they now have full access to someone’s computer for $5.

Not partial access.
Full control.

They can:
• Record every keystroke
• Turn on the webcam
• Steal passwords and files
• Take over the computer remotely
• Install even more malware

And here’s the scary part: the victim installs it themselves.

How the scam works (in plain English):

You get an email that looks like it’s from Booking.com.
Subject line: “Reservation Cancellation”
It mentions a refund over $1,000 and urges you to click quickly.
The link goes to a website that looks EXACTLY like the real Booking. com - correct colors, logos, fonts. Nothing looks suspicious.

Then:
• A fake “loading error” appears
• You click “refresh”
• Your browser suddenly goes full screen
? A Blue Screen of Death appears.
It looks like your computer has crashed - but it hasn’t.

It’s just a webpage pretending to be Windows.
Instructions pop up telling you to:
➡️ Press Win + R
➡️ Paste something
➡️ Press Enter

You think you’re following the instructions to fix your computer.
What you’re actually doing is running malware.

Why this attack is so effective

There’s:
❌ No bad file to scan
❌ No obvious warning
❌ No software exploit
❌ Nothing for your standard anti-virus program to catch

The trick is social engineering - using fear and urgency to get you to do exactly what the attacker wants.
This technique has exploded in the last 6 months (up 517% per Securonix) and is now one of the most common ways computers are compromised, right behind phishing.

? Important rule to remember
Real Windows errors NEVER ask you to take action.
They don’t ask you to paste commands.
They don’t ask you to “fix” anything.
They just show an error and to try a restart.

If a website ever tells you to:
• Press Win + R
• Paste something into PowerShell
• “Fix” a crash from inside your browser
? Close it immediately.

What to do if this ever happens

✅ Close the browser
✅ Do not paste anything
✅ If you already did, disconnect from the internet immediately and get professional help!

This isn’t about being “bad with computers.”
It’s about criminals getting very good at tricking normal people.

Awareness is your best defense.
Please share this - especially with coworkers, family members, or anyone who might panic when something “looks broken.” Or those who want to try and fix it themselves first - this kind of exploit can cost them everything.

Local Help Matters

If you or your business ever see something like this, or just want peace of mind, call a trusted local computer service company immediately.
They can check your system, stop the infection, and make sure your data (and accounts) are safe before more damage is done.

Waiting can make it worse.
Getting help early can save everything.