Thursday, April 25, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
The New York State Police Computer Crime Unit is issuing a warning about a hoax e-mail that purports to be a traffic ticket from the state Department of Motor Vehicles issued by the State Police. The …
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The New York State Police Computer Crime Unit is issuing a warning about a hoax e-mail that purports to be a traffic ticket from the state Department of Motor Vehicles issued by the State Police.
The authorities say this e-mail is not from the State Police or the DMV.
The hoax e-mail tries to persuade the recipient to open an attached zip file, supposedly a copy of a traffic ticket to fill out and send to a town court. The zip file is believed to contain a computer virus and is being analyzed by the State Police Computer Forensics Lab.
If you receive such an e-mail, you should not open the email or attachment as it likely contains a virus. Recipients should be advised that if they opened the e-mail attachment, they should update and run antivirus software and take steps to be sure the computer is secure. Troopers ask that you do not forward the e-mail to state police or local police..
Investigators continue their look into the release of a previous spam e-mail that circulated heavily nationwide through Yahoo e-mail accounts in July. This time, all different types of e-mail accounts are being targeted.
The e-mail subject line may contain the title “UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET.”
The suspect e-mail reads:
New York State — Department of Motor Vehicles
UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET
POLICE AGENCY
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Local Police Code
THE PERSON DESCRIBED ABOVE IS CHARGED AS FOLLOWS
Time Date of Offense IN VIOLATION OF
7:25 AM 07/05/2011 NYS V AND T LAW
Description of Violation
SPEED OVER 55 ZONE
TO PLEAD, PRINT OUT THE ENCLOSED TICKET AND SEND IT TO TOWN COURT, CHATAM HALL., PO BOX 117
The New York State Police and the National Crime Prevention Council said they want to remind computer users of cyber-crime prevention tips to protect themselves:
• Use anti–virus software, firewalls, and other security measures to protect your personal information.
• Only open e–mails from familiar sources and only navigate to trusted sites.
Change your passwords every 90 days and do not allow your computer’s programs to save them.
• Back up important files to external storage devices and be vigilant when downloading from the Internet.
• Install parental control software and monitor your child’s Internet use to keep kids safe online.
• Establish family guidelines for appropriate computer use.
