FBI warns of computer virus being used in scam

The Cincinnati office of the FBI issued a warning Thursday about a computer virus being used to extort money from area residents.

The virus is called Reveton. This computer virus can install itself when an Internet user visits a compromised website. Once infected, the computer locks and displays a message stating that the FBI or Department of Justice has identified the computer as being involved in activities in violation of federal law. The user is instructed to send a prepaid money card in order to have the machine unlocked or face criminal prosecution, the FBI said.

The FBI stresses it does not collect fines or send messages seeking money. The Cincinnati office said it has been receiving 15 to 20 calls a day over the past two week from victims of this computer virus.

FBI field offices around the country “continue to receive a high number of complaints each day about this virus and scam.”

Those who believe their computers may be infected should do the following:

• Do not pay any money or provide any personal information.

• Contact a computer professional to remove the malware and virus from your computer.

• Be aware that even if you are able to unfreeze your computer on your own, the malware may still operate in the background. Certain types of malware have been known to capture personal information such as user names, passwords, and credit card numbers through embedded keystroke logging programs.

• File a complaint at www.ic3.gov and look for updates about the Reveton virus on the IC3 website.

For additional information about this, and other Internet scams, visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov), a partnership between the FBI, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. IC3 receives, develops, and refers criminal complaints of cybercrime to law enforcement agencies.