SCAM Notice! Computer Taken Over by 'Dept. of Justice'!!

[Sandi]

(Blue/Moderators.....my apology if this notice should be at the Off Topic Forum, please move this if that is the proper place for it, but I simply wanted to 'get this message out' to anyone and everyone as soon as possible. My computer was actually taken over and BLOCKED by a SCAM that allegedly was 'the United States Department of Justice!)

This just happened to me 2 days ago; someone said they thought they heard something about this SCAM on the radio, but it was really scary.

Suddenly, my computer froze and the screen was a white background with a very 'official-looking' Information Box that dominated about 3/4 of the screen, with the header at the top, WITH Government Seal, saying United States Department of Justice.

Allegedly, my computer 'was in violation' of one of 3 illegal activities, but I believe they centered on 'child pornography', stating that my computer had been seized by the Government and all Files and pictures were now on file permanently with 'the Police Department'.

Showing the logos of retail establishments that must use this entity called Money-Pal (or Money-Something, I might have the end part incorrect here since I did not photo the screen with the SCAM info), the VERY official-looking notice tells you that you have 48 hours and MUST send $300 through this Money-Pal, using a 'code' they supply.

Nothing could be done on the computer except shut it down, there were no links to follow....and even to a Blonde this smelled very, very much like 'not the Government'.....LOL.

I mean, 1984 may be coming or even here in some ways, but to my knowledge 'the Government' cannot without warning and remotely, 'take over my computer'!

There was a warning, of course, that any attempt to unlock my computer would be met with immediate further and serious legal action.

So I shut down....powered up in Safe Mode....tried a couple things, but each time the machine appeared to be running again, after a few seconds, BANG the screen was taken over by this same warning message and my machine was locked.

Solution in the end was 'easy'; while in Safe Mode I did a System Restore from 2 days ago and the problem has not recurred.

Just wanted to warn everyone because no matter one's preparedness for 'scams', when something appears to be on the letterhead of the Dept. of Justice, it is scary.....lol.

And, no, I had visited no child porn sites....lol.

In reviewing what sites I had visited (which are VERY limited in number for me from this computer), I had been to DS, FF, FN, and clicked on Yahoo articles....and that's it.....in addition to any links I clicked on from those sites.

The 'imageview' site has always concerned me because it seems when an Image is hosted there, the first time I click on it it sends me to porn stuff, then I click out of that and if there are further imageview pictures, I have no problem, but the porn pictures still appear top and bottom of screen.

So I have NO clue that that site has anything to do with this, just trying to review and report the 'actions' I had taken.

So beware, please, and obviously don't go sending $300 if you get such a BLOCK on your own machine!

Sandi

[smudger]

It's quite a well known scam, produced by a virus. There are other variants including getting messages from "Scotland Yard". They all feature having to pay out a "fine".

You should be able to find instructions to remove it using a "clean" computer.

Here:

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/department ... ice-virus/

[chokemeoutlady]

When it happened to me some months back, I had a technician come to my home and clear the malware. He suggested, and I did purchase, a software called malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.com). It grabs these malicious piece of software before they infect your computer. I don't have any vested interest in this software- just sharing my positive experience.

Terrie

[Nightposter]

My daughter (who does not surf "adult" sites) got this on her lap top..surprise! it also turns on your lap tops camera and plays it back to you as "proof" of who you are, claiming to be sending it to the dept of justice.
Well, her lap top didn't have wifi, and she pulled her DSL line when it happened.
I ran my CD of " save my butt" programs ( including Malwarebytes) and took it right out.
She was watching a site that shows "free" TV shows ( one of the major sites) at the time.

[smudger]

It didn't necessarily download from the site she happened to be watching, though.

[elsullo]

Condolences! I too caught this one a while ago. It is called "The FBI Virus" and classified as a "drive-by infection" that has nothing to do with the site you visit, only to a sketchy link from it. There was much discussion here about this a couple of months ago, and how to rescue your computer.

Alas, you might not be free from it yet! When in SafeMode you need to be PHYSICALLY cut off from the internet, cable pulled, or the thing can reload itself faster than you can remove it. That is how it constantly pops up when deleted. Pull your cable, boot to SafeMode, then load MalwareBytes and run it in SafeMode. This is the only way to be sure that it or its friends are not lurking within your computer. A full virus scan at this time is good too.

MalwareBytes is a wonderful program, and there is also a free, non-real-time protection version that you can install in your computer to have available for emergencies, or for occasional on-demand use. Good luck.........................elsullo

[Storm9]

Sandi;

Like someone else mentioned... I was simply looking for movie info at Imdb when hit.. Some kind of secureshield... basically acted like it was supposed to be my own antivirus.
So you can be simply online.. roaming and get tagged. Not even at an adult site.

Looked very convincing.. until I noticed some of the grammer was wrong or mispelled.
Yet until I had tech buddy, bring on Malwarebytes protection.. to basically chase it down and kill it.... (I hates that varmint!! Yosemite Sams voice he he he).
Regular antivirus program saw a problem, but was not able to deal with it.

I still say. There has got to be someone out there smart enough. That a program can be made. Some A-hole sends this out to other computers.
It can back track it, and blow the virus creators puter up!! Sighhhh if only... he he he.

Storm