Belfast - A computer scam that has conned users across Europe into paying a €100 (about R1000) fine has arrived in Ireland - complete with imitation garda logo.
Fraudsters in the scam, known as the police trojan, are now targeting the country and sending out messages, accompanied by a good imitation of the Garda logo, telling users their computers have been locked.
Users are told that this action has been taken because the computer has been used to view banned websites, including those showing child pornography.
They are then faced with a demand for a €100 “fine” to ensure that the computer will be unlocked.
The computers are hit by a virus which downloads a graphic with the message and logo and locks the screen. - Irish Independent