Whitehorse RCMP is reminding people to show caution online.
The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre has received complaints of people being locked out of their computers after receiving pop-up messages that say their computers have been associated with child pornography. The messages ask users to pay $100 to Ukash so their computers will be unlocked. These messages claim to be sent from the RCMP or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
The messages are a scam. They are not sent from the RCMP or CSIS, and paying the money will not unlock the computers.
Sgt. Don Rogers of the Whitehorse RCMP isn’t aware of anyone in the Yukon who has been affected by the messages. Still, he wants people to be aware of the situation.
People can protect themselves and their computers by not opening links in emails from people they don’t know, updating their anti-virus software, and scanning their computers regularly and not downloading virus protection software from links or pop-ups.
Rogers asks residents to report all incidents of these messages, or similar ones, to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.