Crime

‘Ransomware’: New Scam Poses as Feds and Cons Victims Into Paying Fine for Visiting Child Porn Site

Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:28pm by Liz Klimas
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A new scam dubbed “ransomware” is making its rounds on the Web, stating users have violated a federal law by accessing a child porn site — even though they hadn’t. It tricks users into paying a fine and revealing banking info in order “unlock” their computer.

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, the malware is installed on one’s computer when visiting a “drive-by download site” (think clicking on a random pop-up) at which point it will freeze your computer and show you a message allegedly from U.S. Department of Justice stating your IP address has been identified by the Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section as visiting child pornography and other illegal content.

To unfreeze their computer, users are told they can pay $100. In addition to taking this fine, the scam — run by Citadel malware — will also steal banking and credit card information as you access those sites.

Here is what the warning screen looks like:

Citadel Malware Leads Tricks Victims Into Revealing Info With Fake Fining Them for Visiting Child Porn Site

(Image: IC3)

What should you do if this happens to you? Don’t click anything. Report the scam incidence here. Contact your banking institutions to ensure you are protected.

[H/T io9]

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Comments (22)

securepc
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:11pm
Users need to secure their computers! This is nothing new. Apply all the latest updates, keep third party software current, and use secure passwording.

I found a good tutorial at:

http://www.safegadget.com/16/how-to-internet-security-and-windows-security-made-easy/
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geminimoon
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 9:53am
This whole scam sounds just like the scams the FBI and or the CIA use by misleading and setting up supposed terrorists; all in the name of our safety…
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YallComeBack
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:18am
Solution: Run Linux.

Forget MicroSoft- it has a giant bulls-eye on it for malware creators.
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- geminimoon
  Posted on June 5, 2012 at 9:50am
  Totally agree with you on that! ANY Linux distribution is 95% better than using any Windows version.
  
  I have been using Linux without any anti virus, malware or spyware software for years now and have NEVER had any issues.
  
  I recently switched to a Linux distro called Fedora 16, and it is awesome. You can also use LibreOffice that is compatible with all versions of MS Office and for the very few programs(mainly games) that need Windows, you can run them through a Linux software called Wine.
  
  And the best part of using the Linux software, it’s ALL FREE!
  Report Post »
- 702TruthSeeker
  Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:49pm
  linux is also full of security holes since anyone can contribute code and it is often unchecked, people can put in backdoors
  Report Post »
Wiggyky
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:23pm
It says to report the scam incident to click “here”. When you do it gets a 404 not found page. So much for an effective efficient professional webmaster.

As for the scam some of you are too stupid to read the article. It is not targeting actual child molesters, they are targeting the gullible and curious (gee think I’ll click just to see what it is) buffoons. They are only after your money, guilty or not. The people who do scams like this should be castrated.
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ColoradoMaverick
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 7:58pm
Finally! A crime I can actually support! nabbing child porn perverts by scamming them. They should use their credit card and other personal information and ruin their lives!
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- POdVet
  Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:13pm
  Obviously you didn’t read the article. It plainly says it is through a pop-up and falsely claims people visited a site containing child porn.
  Report Post »
villaSF
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 7:36pm
It’s like the teacher that says he found someone cheating on the test and will allow the person to turn himself in by the end of the school day for a lesser punishment. The teacher then gets four different people confessing even when he only saw one person actually cheat. Similarly, if someone is spooked enough by this scam email, it makes me wonder if he has a guilty conscience regarding his web browsing habits.
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spfoam1
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 5:36pm
The money can be traced to a joint offshore account of Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano. They both claim this is not illegal on that island, it is voluntary, and it is for entertainment purposes.
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Countrygirl1362
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 5:14pm
“What should you do if this happens to you? Don’t click anything. Report the scam incidence here.”

First they tell you not to click any thing then to report it by clicking here. Sounds like something the government came up with.
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- teamarcheson
  Posted on June 4, 2012 at 5:30pm
  The Federal Government is probably doing this or knows who is and gives them a pass. I have encountered this at a legitimate newspaper web site. I think they hit un-wanted commenters with this malware. I just reload the operating system, it takes about five minutes and everything is ok. In a world were the government is your real enemy, you have to learn to fix things by yourself.
  Report Post »
- DennisMetz
  Posted on June 4, 2012 at 9:36pm
  you better make sure you got a good wipe program, and the mbr is not infected
  Report Post »
- nzkiwi
  Posted on June 5, 2012 at 4:29am
  BC Wipe is the best shredder that I have come across. It is used by the DOD apparently.
  Report Post »
MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 5:04pm
It‘s more profitable to fine rather than jail and it’s untraceable and unaccounted for.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:59pm
I got that same notice when I went to Whitehouse.gov…..they tried to make me donate to Obama, but the plus side, I could win dinner with Sundusky.
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moreteaplease
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:59pm
And people are really falling for this? Makes me wonder if they’re actually guilty.

I’m pretty sure the FBI would rather pay a personal visit to your house over something like kiddie porn.
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- teamarcheson
  Posted on June 4, 2012 at 5:37pm
  The Government (or the people who work for the government) are being ordered to shut down the Internet but there is a lot of opposition. Another way to shut it down is to lock up everyone’s computer and make them fear using the Internet. Only the Government has the ability to do these things with NSA to do them. If this was being done by anyone else, the Government with all its billions of laws would shut down these people. Its your Government, you now the Obama, Bush, Pelosi, McCain, Hatch, Lugger, etc. Government. Only God can stop them with his atomic weapons but I have not seen his Angels orbiting Earth yet.
  Report Post »
mrmarkjohnson
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:56pm
Are people really dumb enough to think they can pay $100 fine for child pornography? I guess with Obama in office you never know.
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Kafir-Islamsux
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:53pm
As I have said before…death penalty for hackers and scammers like this…even if it did fund DHS pension…lol
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jhrusky
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:36pm
Add your comments
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- lukerw
  Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:49pm
  Sounds like… a HomeLand Security… Pension Funding activity!
  Report Post »

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