The RCMP have received reports from residents that they have been ‘locked out’ of their computer, and received pop-up message stating that their computer has been frozen by the police for a criminal investigation.
In some cases, the pop-up provides a list of possible offences, while in other cases the pop-up may list a specific offence such as ‘child pornography’ or ‘illegal music downloading.’ The message then tells recipients to pay $100 via a payment service provider so their computers can be unlocked.
Police say these warning messages claim to come from the RCMP or other Canadian government agencies, but do not, and no money should be sent.
These types of messages, commonly known as “Ransomware” or “Scareware,” are designed to create shock and anxiety.
The RCMP advise that if you’ve been locked out of your computer, it’s an indicator that your system may have been infected with malware and you will need to take steps to address the problem.
For more information about this scam, go to http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/ransomware.html, or contact the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.