Alarming warnings that internet surfers' computers are being invaded by a devastating virus are almost always scams used to either hack into computers or rip off consumers for phony protective software. More than 40 million people have fallen victim to the "scareware" scam in the past year. Experts have identified some 250 versions of the scareware scam, and estimate that crooks make $1.2 million selling fake software alone.
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