Skype Scam

Posted by Lisa Blanc on January 9, 2013

What is Skype Scam?

Have you heard of a computer infection called Skype Scam? In reality, this name hides two different infections – the Fake Virus Call which leads to rogue AV infiltration and the malicious MoneyPak ransomware. Anti-Spyware-101.com researchers have detected the infection as a threat to those Skype users who live in the U.S.; however, it may be only a matter of time when this double-faced infection spreads across the world. If you do not remove Skype Scam, you may face blocked computer and serious financial loss. Therefore, we suggest you do not waste another minute, read the report and take necessary measures.

Skype Fake Virus Call Scam

If you launch your Skype, click on Tools, go to Options and then Privacy, you are most likely to find yours set as “Allow anyone to contact me”. In case your PC has not been affected by the Skype Scam yet, you should change your settings to “Only allow people in my Contact list to contact me”. This will make it impossible for schemers to conduct a fake virus call. In case you haven fallen victim of this already, you must have “answered” a call performed by one of the callers listed below. Note that new ones could be created.

John Simmons @ Online Alert
Online Notification
ONLINE REPORT NOTICE
Skype Alert System
System Alert
System Service
Service Report
Service Update Report
Update Notification

An automated, pre-recorded, fake virus call states:

Attention: this is an automated computer system alert. Your computer protection service is not active. To activate computer protection, and repair your computer, go to [LINK]

Do not allow schemers to trick you into visiting links of such domains as updatega.com, sosbl.com, helpmgr.com, helpsg.com, etc. If you follow the links, you are introduced to a completely fictitious computer scanner which is meant to convince you that your PC is attacked by malign programs you need to delete. The scanner forwards you to a new page, where you are rushed to purchase a $19.95 malware removal tool which supposedly fits both Windows and Mac users. Additionally, you are presented with this:

*failure to activate computer protection service may result in severe computer malfunction

Ignore the fake AV purchase offering because all schemers want is to get your money. The fake version of this product has no technical capabilities to guard the computer or delete invading infections. Moreover, you should never expose your personal data, which is requested in the purchase page, to a program that is advertised through a fake virus call.

" lol is this your new profile pic " Ransomware Virus

The second layer of the scam is the malicious ransomware which may access your computer if you run an executable stored in a zip file which is sent via Skype IM. Note that the file can be sent to you with the following tag: "lol is this your new profile pic?" Unlike the fake virus call, the malicious attachment is sent by once of your personal contacts whose account may have been hijacked by schemers.

Once you click on the suspicious executable, the action creates a security backdoor which allows a third party to drop malicious ransomware files and hijack your operating Windows system. Your PC is locked and your screen gets covered with an intimidating alert which states you have broken cyber security laws. Regardless of the presented crimes, you have to ignore the fictitious $200 fine demands collected via Moneypak.

How to remove Skype Scam?

It has been discovered that if you do not delete Skype Scam it could be used as a botnet through which schemers could conduct malicious DoS attacks. Do not allow cyber crooks to thrive and remove the infections as soon as possible. Note that the removal of the fake anti-virus tool, distributed via the fake virus call, is much easier. All you have to do is install SpyHunter – an automatic threat removal tool – and let it find and delete malignant components. The removal is much more complicated with the ransomware; however, if you follow the provided instructions – you will succeed in no time.

Remove from Windows Vista and Windows 7:

Restart the computer.
Wait for BIOS (information on hardware) to load.
Immediately start tapping the F8 key.
Use arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking.
Hit Enter to apply.
Download the automatic threat removal tool SpyHunter from http://www.anti-spyware-101.com/download-sph
Install the program and have all malware deleted right away.

Remove from Windows XP: