Just got this e-mail through my Yahoo mail account. It is a virus...
UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET
POLICE AGENCY
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Local Police Code
THE PERSON DESCRIBED ABOVE IS CHARGED AS FOLLOWS
Time
8:32 AM
Date of Offense
17/01/2012
IN VIOLATION OF
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
Then there's a .zip file attached. DO NOT OPEN THE ZIP FILE.
The e-mail I got actually originated in Spain, not New York. It's disguised to look like it came from nypd.gov, but it didn't. Furthermore, after receiving a number of these kinds of notices (long story, paperwork mix-up that got another guy's tickets sent to me), I can tell you that they don't come from the state. They come from the city or county court that has jurisdiction over the violation. They come on paper and they identify both you and the car involved specifically. They also identify the location of the violation and the officer who is certifying the evidence of the violation.
It's a good trick, seems legitimate. Basically, since they can't shove a virus down your throat, they're trying to trick you into swallowing it. When you open the zip file and double-click the file inside, you're going to get a virus, and you'll have given it to yourself.
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