Newberry County officials warn residents of computer scam

Newberry County officials are urging residents to be wary of a computer virus that threatens to take over a computer’s operating system and potentially steal victim’s data stored on the computer.

Sheriff Lee Foster said the scam comes in the form of an email, which tells users that their computer has been compromised and offers them a link to clean their computer. The link then implants a software that allows the operating system to be locked down.

Foster said once the operating system is locked down, victims are directed to make a telephone call to a company that can unlock the computer. The company asks victims for their personal information and money to release the computer or the data that may have been taken. The suspects will tell victims that they will hold your computer’s information unless a ransom is paid.

Most of the suspects appear to be operating overseas in countries that are exempt from U.S. laws and investigations.

Foster urges residents to be on the lookout for suspicious emails and to not click on any emails that seem suspicious.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Newberry County officials warn residents of computer scam."