MARQUETTE, MI — (Great Lakes Radio News) — Marquette Police are warning residents of a computer scam making it’s way around the area.
Several cases have been reported recently to police, but no instances of anyone losing money to the new scam.
Authorities say the scam is a so-called “drive-by” virus that will infect the victim’s computer as soon as they visit a compromised website. The virus locks up the computer and puts a message on the screen saying there has been a violation of federal law.
It also goes on to say the computer’s I.P. address has been identified by the FBI and Department of Justice as being linked to child pornography sites and other illegal online activity.
To unlock the computer, users are required to pay a fine using a prepaid money card service, provided through the message.
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