Police are urging computer users to be on their guard against a nationwide scam in which fraudsters are spamming fake British Gas bills.
The fraudsters are sending the fake emails out that look like a genuine gas bill. There is a link on it which, if clicked on, installs ransomware on to the computer.
The ransomware then locks the computer and the fraudsters then demand money to unlock it.
Detective Inspector Benn Kemp of West Yorkshire Police's Cyber Crime Team, said:
"This is a nationwide fraud that we are aware of and I would urge people to be on their guard. I would ask people to never open an email unless they are certain of the credentials of the sender and to share our message with other people.
"British Gas for example always send personal emails and will usually quote the customer's account number. Their links are always www.britishgas.co.uk.
"You should also regularly update your anti virus and browsers, avoid public wifi connections when doing things like internet banking and back up all your files."
Bradford Libraries Launch Summer Reading Challenge
Seven Arrested in West Yorkshire Immigration Crime Crackdown
MyLahore Celebrates 24 Years of Serving Communities
Culture at the Heart of Stockport’s Transformation
South Asian Art Exhibition Opens at Cartwright Hall
Men’s Mental Fitness Programme Launches in Blackburn
Former Teacher Charged with 1990s Child Sex Offences
Council Calls for Tougher Fly-Tipping Sentences
Man Jailed for Raping and Exploiting Vulnerable Teen in Stockport
Free Midsummer Festival to Return to Milton Keynes
Leeds Sets Out ‘Landmark Year of Opportunity’ for Major Projects
Bhangra Nights
Remix Saturdays
Alim OnAir
The Golden Era