Several BitTorrent users complained of receiving a new malware scam that has accused them of copyright infringement, forcing them to settle the case by paying $400 through their online bank account.
According to reports, the malware has posed a message “Warning! Pirated content was detected on your PC. You are seriously violating copyright” before opening a web page which was purportedly managed by a Swiss company.
The message also included the phrase “Copyright fund has received report and has started an investigation. You’ll receive subpoena in a week”. Meanwhile, the scam has posted names of some government agencies and private groups including RIAA, MPAA, Copyright Alliance, and FBI Anti-Piracy Warning.
According to reports, the website was ran by a fake company which called itself ICCP Foundation claiming that it was backed by groups fighting for the copyrights of the recording industry and producers.
In a report by TorrentFreak, the “malware works by scanning a user’s hard drive for any torrent files and displays these as an evidence of copyright infringement.”
To force users in paying the “settlement” for the infringement, the scam threatens them of possible imprisonment if they will not able to settle the one-time payment of $400 through their credit card.
Some analysts said the new malware scam has been designed to capitalize on the issues involving the record industry and its lawsuits against thousands of downloaders who allegedly committed copyright infringement.
The analysts also said the scam works like a money-making malware and the Koobface worm, a computer virus which attacked countless of Facebook accounts last year. They also warned online users from any threats that ask them to reveal their credit card numbers and ask for certain payments.