TEN THINGS WORTH KNOWING
& DOING -- RIGHT AWAY!
& DOING -- RIGHT AWAY!
A. FIRST SCAM
1. In addition to the below police warning of rotten telephone behavior, a similar practice has attacked personal computers with a vicious form of infection referred to as "Ransomeware."
2. One example of this Internet crime: In this example, if you are attacked, an alarming, very official-looking warning, purporting to be from the FBI, locks your screen and does something like this: (1) accuses you of downloading child pornography (or some other serious crime); (2) threatens you with an arrest warrant; (3) says that to avoid arrest -- and unlock your computer -- you must pay a $300 fine; (4) Instructs you to pay at once, using a reloadable prepaid card ONLY (no other payment form accepted) -- upon which, you will receive an "unlock code"; (5) freezes your ENTIRE SYSTEM (so that you can do nothing with it at all) and says you must pay before your system will be unlocked.
B. SUGGESTED INTERPRETATION & WEIGHT
3. ISN'T THAT UTTERLY DESPICABLE? Like some diabolical fisherman casting a wide net to see what "fish" can be caught. And holding his catch for ransom. A revolting display of misdirected human creativity. The police will never do this, so you should never be duped by this sort of thing.
4. AND, I AM SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE This happened to me, about 10 days ago, and I lost a few irreplaceable hours, figuring out exactly what to safely do -- I'm counting on saving you some precious time and urgent distraction.
5. THE RISK: I am told, so as to believe it, that your system can be seriously damaged if you don't deal with this especially potent form of attack correctly.
C. VERY SENSIBLE PREPARATION TO MAKE NOW
6. Please: (1) take a look at this Google search (click here); (2) install the recommended repair programs on your system (those programs are great to have, anyway); (3) print a copy of the repair procedures you've selected and keep them in your files -- for you will not be able to use your computer to search for what to do -- nor even to download and install a solution -- after you have been stricken -- another reason to have a second computer, if you can.
D. FIXING IT IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU
7. So far (at the time of this writing, though you should double-check), Norton and other major security programs don't seem to have a fix for this one, yet -- but you can readily find the ones that will, on the search-page, above.
- Some of the legitimate programs will tell you to reboot Windows systems in "safe mode" and run the repair programS to thoroughly fix the problem as instructed (which may not always be possible, depending on the particular virus).
- Others might tell you to use your installation disks or to "restore" your computer to an earlier state, then run the repair programS (a process which also might be interfered with, I found).
- Also, installing more than one little "fix-it" program is a generally necessary and reassuring precaution.
8. I did a "restore" of my system back to a month prior, then went in and did the recommended "surgery." Although, in my case, the virus rendered my normal "restore menu" inaccessible, requiring accessing the restore command, directly at the command level. (If you don't know how to do this, the procedures will show you how) Worked like a champ!
9. Don't panic, but do be systematic and prepared.
F. SECOND SCAM -- (10. The Police Bulletin)
Monday September 9, 2013, 3:05 PM Pittsburg Police Department (CA)
Crime Alert — Man Impersonates Peace Officer in Telephone Scam Targeting East County Residents
The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff would like to warn the public about an individual who is impersonating an employee of the Sheriff's Office.
For the past month, this unknown suspect has randomly called numerous residents in Contra Costa County claiming to be “Lieutenant Stevens.” The caller tells listeners that they have a warrant for their arrest. In order to clear the warrant, the caller then requests payment over the phone through reloadable prepaid cards that could be purchased at local drug stores.
There is no one by the name of "Lieutenant Stevens" employed by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff. It is not the practice of any law enforcement agency to have people clear their warrants over the telephone through reloadable prepaid cards.
Several people have been victimized by this type of fraudulent activity. Anyone receiving such a call should refuse to provide any personal information to the caller. Please contact your local law enforcement agency and notify them of the incident.
For full details, view this message on the web.TEXT-A-TIP
Text TIP PITTSBURGPD followed by your message, to 888777 or Submit an anonymous web tip
65 Civic Ave, Pittsburg, CA 94565. © 2013 Nixle, LLC. All rights reserved.
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