back to article 'NSA PRISM spies' shake down victims with bogus child-abuse vids claims

Crooks are using the NSA's notorious global web surveillance scandal in new ransomware: punters visiting booby-trapped websites are falsely accused of downloading illegal material, told their PCs are now locked from use, and ordered to hand over a cash "fine" to unlock their computers. Cloud security firm Zscaler has spotted …

COMMENTS

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  1. btrower

    So surprised

    I think I mentioned the inevitability of this type of thing in an earlier comment. Penalties against perps in a scam like this should be very harsh indeed.

    1. Don Jefe

      Re: So surprised

      Which perps?

    2. Fatman

      Re: So surprised

      Penalties against perps in a scam like this should be very harsh indeed.

      A .357 to the head would suffice.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: So surprised

        Wouldn't be surprised if the scammers got outed fairly swiftly...for using the logo if nothing else. The NSA are spectacularly tooled up for dealing with this sort of thing, plus they could use a little positive publicity at the moment.

        On you go NSA; we're waiting (folds arms, looks at watch).

  2. Ralph B
    Headmaster

    They Need Locking Up

    The perpetrators need locking up for the bad spelling alone.

  3. Christoph

    The biggest problem of all is that an innocent family member or friend might get accused of being the one who must have downloaded porn. This could in some cases have some really nasty results. This is not a trivial crime.

    1. Pascal Monett Silver badge

      Not exactly what you said, but just a fortnight ago I got a panicked call from an acquaintance about how his PC was locked by the equivalent French authority for illegal filesharing. Indeed, he could no longer access the Internet from that PC.

      I know the guy. He doesn't have a chance in Hell to have installed a filesharing tool, he doesn't even know what that is, nor where to get one. Yep, he's just a n00b, and good on him too.

      I calmed him down immediately and told him that was most certainly a scam. I asked him for the exact warning message, and in two clicks I got him proof that it was a scam. Then we set about fixing the issue (okay, I set about fixing the issue).

      My point is, there are people who will be caught by this. Honest people, who will be honestly afraid and won't have a knowledgeable friend to turn to for help.

      Shame on those crooks.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Black Helicopters

    Oooo them scammers are in so much trouble now... did you see, they used the seal of the NSA in their scam... the NSA head bods takes a dim view of people misusing their agencies seal.

    Black helicopter for obvious reasons.

  5. b0llchit Silver badge
    Devil

    Scammers or spies?

    Are these real scammers or just a front for the NSA soliciting extra-governmental funds for black-ops?

  6. Don Jefe

    Irony?

    Does it qualify as irony when a national intelligence agency, which by default, is wholly focused on the cause and effect of information, affects such a cause as scammers riding their coat tails?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Irony?

      Send it to Alanis Morisette for her collection - she must have loads by now.

      1. PhilBuk
        Happy

        Re: Irony?

        @Moiety

        Very good but a bit obscure.

        Phil.

  7. Evil Auditor Silver badge

    NSA?

    Yes, yes... But are these the same crooks that run the NSA?

    1. Khaptain Silver badge

      Re: NSA?

      No it can't be because most crooks have a code of honour, whoever runs the NSA has no scruples whatsover.

  8. Stefing

    Help me Obi Cam Kanobi you're my only hope

    This is why we need the Great Firewall of Cameron - to protect us hapless brainless punters from the DANGER OF THE INTERWEBS.

    1. Crisp

      Re: Help me Obi Cam Kanobi you're my only hope

      If they can erect a massive firewall to protect us from porn...

      ...Then why can't they construct one to keep out spammers and malware writers?

  9. Brandon 2

    the other day

    A friend of mine came to work the other day saying his fiance was freaking out about having to pay $300 to avoid being prosecuted for downloading child pornography. Granted, she is hardly the most computer savvy person on the planet. My friend reassured her she won't have to pay anything, but in the process, she grilled her son, who vehemently denied watching anything "he shouldn't" on the web... but after an hour of tears and yelling, finally admitted to frequenting a couple of sites for which the internet was invented. Poor kid. Two days later, our IT guy came back from holiday and rid them of their locked computer.

    1. xperroni
      Facepalm

      Re: the other day

      Once in high school, I wanted to show a friend how easy it was to cajole people into damning themselves, simply by making a blanket accusation and letting their guilt consciences work on it for a while. So I approached a random colleague and told him in my most serious tone:

      John, you're done for, we know it.

      To which he retorted: Know what?

      And I answered: You know what.

      After a few seconds being stared at, he started waving his head: Uh, I'm not gay.

      I haven't tried this trick since.

  10. hugo tyson
    FAIL

    New screensaver image

    I'm having that for my screensaver.... at work only, of course.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: New screensaver image

      I'm having that for my screensaver.... at work only, of course.

      When you come back to your desk and find someone furiously trying to scroll down, you know what to do.

  11. RobHib
    Windows

    Duh, not again!

    If it weren't for the seriousness of the matter, one would have to laugh.

    Is there NO opportunity these scumbags will miss?

    Seemingly not!

  12. Trainee grumpy old ****
    WTF?

    "Ceratin"

    Is there some sort of rule that obliges scammers to make spelling or grammatical errors? (click on the picture to expand -> second and third bits of legalese)

    1. John H Woods Silver badge

      Re: "Ceratin"

      Quite possibly done on purpose. Scammers do not want to waste time with people who are sufficiently clued-up to catch on before they have fallen victim, and it has been suggested that poor grammar and spelling are de rigeur in order to ensure people who will be more difficult to con do not engage.

      "In choosing a wording to dissuade all but the likeliest prospects the scammer reveals a great sensitivity to false positives."

      http://research.microsoft.com/pubs/167719/WhyFromNigeria.pdf

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Oh, come on - it has to be a fake. No government agency would put together a web site as well-designed as that.

  14. MrDamage Silver badge

    New spin on an old scam

    My flatmate got one of these on his pc, only claiming to be from the Australian Federal Police. I decided to ignore his pleas for help in removing it for a few days, and only relented when he finally promised to never use IE again.

    He now knows better, as I informed him the next time he gets it, my "fix" for the problem would involve introducing his fingers to a ball peen hammer.

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