Fake parking tickets direct to malicious Web site

In a scary online-offline Internet scam, hybrid cars in North Dakota have been tagged with fake parking citations that include a Web address hosting malicious software that drops a Trojan onto the computer.

The yellow tickets found on the cars in Grand Forks, North Dakota, read "PARKING VIOLATION This vehicle is in violation of standard parking regulations. To view pictures with information about your parking preferences, go to" and gave a Web site, according to a blog posting on the SANS Internet Storm Center site.

The site referenced shows photos of cars in parking lots in that town and prompts the visitor to download a toolbar to see purported photos of the ticketed car. Downloading the executable installs a Trojan and displays a fake security alert when the system is rebooted. The fake alert prompts the computer user to install a fake anti-virus scanner, SANS said.

"The initial program installed itself as a browser helper object (BHO) for Internet Explorer that downloaded a component from childhe.com and attempted to trick the victim into installing a fake anti-virus scanner from bestantispyware securityscan.com and protectionsoft warecheck.com," wrote SANS analyst Lenny Zeltser.

McAfee's Avert Labs Blog identified the Trojan as Vundo.

The Web site listed on the fake parking citations urges drivers to download a toolbar to find a photo of their car but installs a Trojan instead.

(Credit: SANS, McAfee)

[MythicalMe]

So, what is being done to curb this crime??? If you're going to report on something, at least go a little further and contact officials, like the Grand Forks PD, to get a comment from them. This is scary, but I would also like to know that the folks that are supposed to be looking after the public interests are on the job.

[Lethality]

Why do people still even use Microsoft products at all?

[solu1978]

because people still don't live on Mars.

[gofalcons]

maybe when an os comes along that suppots just about any hardware or software and is used in most business worldwide...until then.....shut up you lame linux/apple fanboy

[tm_anon]

@gofalcons

The following browsers are available on Windows; firefox, opera, chrome, flock. This list is not exhaustive, it's just a sample of those browsers which are at least a little more secure than IE.

As for your other comment, try using an OS before spouting FUD.

[Maccess]

Doesn't Linux run on most hardware? I run a browser on a Linux VM running on an XP host when visitting sites that are a potential secruity risk.

[AlternateRoute]

I wonder why they were only picking on hybrid cars?

[tm_anon]

If you own a hybrid car right now, you must have money. There's your reason.

[ferretboy88]

Because people that own Hybrid cars act like they are the cats meow. Like they are better than others. At least in NY that is how they look.

[Dalkorian]

They're trying to reduce local smug levels. :D

[techman21]

If you're that stupid...

[Dalkorian]

That was my first thought too. Parking tickets don't refer you to websites, they refer you to courthouses. If I saw one of these my first thought would be to toss it in the trash and forget it.

[ferretboy88]

These people need to be found and have their hands broken.