Organized criminal gangs are exploiting security-conscious internet users by tricking them into downloading and paying for anti-virus protection which is actually malicious software – known as scareware – in disguise.

Often operating on a commercial scale, these gangs target victims through cold calls and by deceiving legitimate webmasters into advertising phony software for a 'pay per download'.

Evidence from some of the most serious 'malicious anti-virus' (also known as rogueware) cases known to date indicate that organized gangs stand to make millions while victims are left out-of-pocket, their bank details stolen and their computers seriously compromised, say experts at GetSafeOnline.org, the UK’s national internet security initiative.

More: http://www.net-security.org/malware_news.php?id=1530