Virus tricks man into turning himself in for child porn

[techbeck]

A 21-year-old Virginia man was browsing the internet when he saw a pop-up that likely filled him with dread. "FBI warning," the message read, informing him that child pornography had been identified on his machine, and instructing him to pay a fine or face prosecution. The message was fake, of course ? just ransomware, a type of malware that locks up a user's computer until they pay up.

 

Instead of paying the scammers, the man brought his computer to the police station and asked if there were any warrants out for his arrest for child pornography. There were not, but police searched the machine and found messages and photos with underage girls. The man was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, one count of using a communication device to solicit certain offenses involving children, and one count of indecent liberties with a minor. He is being held without bond.

 

This could be a case of a bumbling pedophile who turned himself in. However, ransomware has been known to plant pornographic images on victims' computers to scare them into paying, so he may be guilty of nothing more than a mortifying lack of tech savvy.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/27/4562804/virus-tricks-man-into-turning-himself-in-for-child-porn