The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre has been receiving reports from Canadians who say their computers are being frozen or they have been “locked out” of their computers after receiving pop-up messages warning them their computer has been associated with child pornography. Â These warning messages, which claim to be from the RCMP or CSIS, tell the recipient to pay $100 dollars via Ukash so their computer can be “unlocked”.
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These types of messages, commonly known as scareware, are designed to create such shock and anxiety that victims respond by sending money quickly.
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If you receive one of these messages, please be aware that it is a scam – these messages are not being issued by the RCMP. Â Last November, Ukash posted an alert on their website about a similar scam targeting residents in the United Kingdom. Â If you’ve been “locked out” of your cpmuter, it’s an indicator that your system may have been infected with malware and you will need to take steps to address the problem.
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Tips to protect yourself:
- Never click on a pop-up that claims your computer has a virus
- Update your anti-virus software often and scan your computer for viruses regularly
- Don’t click on links or attachments in e-mails sent to you by someone you don’t know
- Turn on your browser’s pop-up blocking feature
- Never download anti-virus software from a pop-up or link sent to you in an e-mail
If you have received a scareware message, please contact the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) to report it.