Child porn scam targets Newbury

One Newbury victim suddenly found a large page filling his computer screen making shocking allegations, and even naming two innocent police forces to give the message credibility.
The Metropolitan Police in London, and Chester Constabulary, were both strongly featured at the top of the page, along with pictures of a senior officer and the Queen.
Scam analysts believe it to be one of the most pernicious ruses to hit the royal county.
Victims are told that their ‘crimes’ have been collated “under supervision of the Ministry of Interior, Interpol, Copyright Alliance, and the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance.”
Directly under the Queen’s photograph are the words: “Automatic data on your criminal misconduct instances has been started. In 24 hours a criminal case will be submitted to court.
“However, you still have 24 hours to pay the penalty. In this way you can avoid submission of the criminal case.”
Victims are told that for £100 paid to ‘Ukash’ every listed ‘crime’ would be erased.
Those ‘crimes’ alleged to have been committed were:
Viewing, storing, and disseminating banned pornography, including child pornography and rape, and with a potential prison sentence of five to 11 years.
Violation of copyright and related rights laws, which included downloading and pirating videos, that had a potential prison sentence of three to seven years.
Stealing and storing information and data of State importance, with a possible five to eight years in prison, plus a £100,000 fine.
Regularly bulk-spamming – distributing pornography – that could lead to five years in prison and a £250,000 fine.
The message continued: “Your personal identities and location are well identified, and a criminal case can be opened against you in 96 hours.
“However, the penalty must be paid in 24 hours to the Treasury. On expiration of the term, the following 24 hours will be used for automatic collection of data on yourself and your misconduct, and a criminal case will be opened against you.
“As soon as the money arrives in the Treasury account all information will be decrypted in 24 hours.”
Victims are warned that should they ignore the order to pay, a criminal case would be opened against them. They are told to use a PaySafeCard, which was apparently “available in 450,000 sales outlets worldwide, and at supermarkets, petrol stations, newsagents, and all PayPoint outlets”.
The scam is designed, in particular, to terrify those who live alone, the elderly, and those less experienced in computer use who are more likely to put trust in what is displayed on their computer screen.
Angela Money, chairperson of Newbury and Thatcham Neighbourhood Watch, warned: “This horrendous scam is hitting Berkshire, and I advise every victim to contact Action Fraud immediately on 0300-123-2040.”
Action Fraud this week said that no-one there had a clue as to where the scam was coming from, and added that “it could be America, Spain or Asia.”
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) this week identified it as malware named Android-Trojan.Koller.