New Ransomware Claims FBI is Tracking You, Demands Payment

By Evan Asher August 20th in Blog

We’ve been seeing a new malware infection daily, and its rapid growth is giving users a scare.  Once it infects you, it freezes your computer, warns you that the FBI is tracking you, and demands that you make payment of a fine to the government in order to unfreeze your computer.  Here are the details:

The computer is locked, then you are directed to a fraudulent FBI website (see image)

Then a message is displayed which says, “Attention! Your PC is blocked due to at least one of the reasons specified below:

You have been violating Copyright and related rights Law (Video, Music,Software) and illegally using or distributing copyrighted content, thus infringing Article I, Section 8, clause 8, also known as the Copyright of the Criminal Code of United States of America. If it is PCEU Virus then this is thus infringing Article 128 of the criminal code of Great Britain.

The ransomware details that you have been viewing or distributing prohibited pornographic content (Child Pornography/Zoophilia). Thus violating article 202 of the Criminal Code of United States of America. Article 202 of the criminal provides for deprivation of liberty for two or twelve yours.

Illegal access to computer data has been initiated from your PC,or you have been. Article 210 (it is 208 for PCEU Virus) of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to $100,000 and/or a deprivation of liberty for four to nine years.

Fines may only be paid within 72 hours after the infringement. As soon as 72 hours elapse, the possibility to pay the fine expires, and a criminal case is initiated against you automatically within the next 72 hours! (Sometimes it shows you within 2 hours or 48 hours).”

This is a fake message, and users are encouraged to enter their credit card details on the Moneypak site which is linked.  To add to the realism and fear, it activates your webcam and claims to be recording you.

If you see this type of activity on your computer, turn it off immediately and call us so we can properly and safely remove it.  The longer you leave it on and connected to the internet, the worse the infection is likely to get.

As always, keep your computer up to date, install an antivirus program like Microsoft Security Essentials, and be wary of the links you click.