AFP ‘Traffic Infringement Notice’ Ransomware Email
The original site is no longer online; links go to the Internet Archive copy.
The claim
You have been issued with a traffic infringement:
Reason: negligent driving
Infringement No: 18293019380
Date of issue: 07/04/2011
Amount due: $150.00 AUD
Due date: 10/05/2011
To see more information please view your infringement notice. see your traffic infringement
Payment must be made within 14 days from the date of service of the infringement notice or the reminder notice.
You may apply for an extension to pay the infringement notice penalty, or to dispute the liability, within 28 days from the date of service of either the infringement notice or the reminder notice.
This is automatically generated message, please visit to unsubscribe.
What the fact-checkers found
According to this email, which purports to be from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), you have been issued with a traffic infringement and must pay a fine within 14 days.
The email contains a link that supposedly allows you to view your infringement notice.
The email includes the AFP logo and, at first glance, may appear to be an official police notification.
However, the email is not from the AFP and the link does not open a traffic infringement notice.
Clicking the link takes you to a website that checks the operating system you are using. If you are using Microsoft Windows, ransomware may then be downloaded to your computer.
The AFP has issued a media release warning people about the attack. The media release notes in part:
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is urgently warning the public of an email scam currently circulating throughout Australia and internationally that requests payment for a bogus AFP Traffic Infringement Notice. The scam email initially asks the recipient to pay an ‘AFP fine’ of approximately $150. If links within the message are clicked, the recipient’s computer is infected with malware which renders it inoperable. At that point ransomware is activated where the recipient is asked to pay thousands of dollars to reactivate their computer. AFP National Coordinator Cyber Crime Adrian Norris has said anyone who receives the email should delete it immediately.
Details in the malware emails may vary. If you receive one of these emails, do not click any links or open any attachments that it contains.
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