Police Shut Down Ransomware Scam

[engine]

A complex cybercrime network spreading ransomware designed to extort money has been shut down, police have said.

Spanish authorities, working with the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol, arrested 11 people, from Russia, Georgia and Ukraine.

Software planted on targeted machines accused the user of having viewed illegal content,...

It then told the user to pay a "fine" before continuing to use the machine.Police Shut Down Ransomware Scam [bbc.co.uk]

A Europol statement said: "By dressing the ransomware up to look as if it comes from a law enforcement agency, cybercriminals convince the victim to pay the 'fine' of 100 euros [$130; £85] through two types of payment gateways - virtual and anonymous - as a penalty for the alleged offence.

"The criminals then go on to steal data and information from the victim's computer.

[lucy24]

Oh, I love it. It's an updated version of the old-time mass mailing that says

Everything is discovered. Leave town at once.

followed by the innocent amusement of watching your town's leading citizens all pack up and leave for parts unknown.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I am not sure about the death penalty but I could make an exception for these scum.

[johnhh]

Um, or in the UK , you get letters from lawyers, your ip address has been traced as downloading from file sharing/p*rnsite pay £x or else. This was actually done, eventually lawyers were struck off in one case, in another they had to have proof that ip address = postal address.