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FBI Online Scam Strikes Flint Resident


Police from Flint (Michigan) has reported that a man who purchased one PC sold at a local pawn shop became subject to an Internet scam involving the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) that tried extorting enormous money from him in a blackmailing ploy, published mlive.com dated February 17, 2015.

Flint police came to know from the man that after he made the purchase on 14th February 2015, brought the PC home and got it started, an FBI alert emerged on the system's screen which told his PC had been locked because of child pornography and/or other dubious operation.

The alert read that the man must pay $200 within 72 hours so he could regain the PC in its original unlocked state as well as that he would require paying the sum via some money card. Meanwhile, through one news report published some days back, the Flint resident had known about the scam so he contacted the police instantly.

Now, a warning on FBI's website suggests it's a Reveton ransomware that hit the man and others previously. FBI first noticed the virus during 2011. During May 2012, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released an alert on its online site the time from when the virus got increasingly prevalent across USA and worldwide, with a few Reveton variants capable of even starting PC webcams to exhibit images of victimized users on screen.

But the screen would freeze due to the Reveton while an average end-user won't manage in easily getting the virus eliminated.

Now, for those becoming victimized with Reveton, IC3 suggests certain measures:

One, no user must make any money payment alternatively give his private information. Two, he must know that even though he manages in unlocking his PC, the virus could yet run behind the screen. A few malware strains are understood to seize confidential details like payment card numbers, passwords and usernames via installed keystroke loggers.

Three, a PC technician must be contacted for eliminating the ransomware.

Finally and importantly too, user must lodge a complaint while remain watchful for any information regarding the Reveton via browsing IC3's online site.

» SPAMfighter News - 2/28/2015

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