Please be aware of the following scam which has been around for some time but we have just seen again on a clients computer here in Perth.

After a few minutes the following image takes over your PC or laptop and locks you out, rendering your computer inoperable.

This is caused by a computer-virus which tries to get you to use purchased credits to pay a fine to the Australian Federal Police of $100 using an online payment system called Ukash.

Now it’s important to point out that Ukash, like Western Union, is a legitimate business and they are not associated with this scam. Ukash provides a service for consumers who want to send cash overseas quickly or buy things online using a voucher bought with cash. Ukash is based, as the name might suggest, in the UK and it’s regulated by the Financial Services Authority there. Ukash vouchers are available in set denominations – $20, $50, $100 and so on, up to $500 – at small shops, newsagents, delis and video stores across many countries, including Australia.

DO NOT DO PAY ANYTHING, IT IS A SCAM the scammers are trying to steal your money.

Our Western Australian government has issued a warning over the missue of Ukash vouchers here

And Ukash themselves issue a number of warnings on their own site here

Now back to the scam. What appears on your screen says the following:

AFP Australian Federal Police
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 128 of the Criminal Code of Australia. Article 128 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of 2 to 5 hundred minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty for 2 to 8 years.
You have been viewing or distributing prohibited Pornographic content (Child Porn/Zoophillia anr etc.) Thus violating article 202 of the Criminal Code of Australia.
Article 202 of the Criminal Code provides for a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 12 years. Illegal access to computer has been initiated from your PC, or you have been… Article 208 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to AUD $100,000 and/or a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 9 years.
Illegal access has been initiated from your PC without your knowledge or consent, your PC may be infected by malware, thus you are violating the law On Neglectful Use of Personal Computer. Article 210 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of AUD $2,000 to AUD $8,00.

To remove this virus you need to create a boot-disk using a commercially available virus removal program or a FREE virus removal boot disk program such as AVG Rescue.