Internet users who access porn websites are being warned a message from police advising them they are committing offences and have been fined $200 is a scam.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said this week police in Oamaru had received at least four reports about the scam, in which people accessing adult content on websites receive a message, reportedly from police and e-crime investigators.
The mobile phones used to access the sites became frozen and users were told the devices would remain frozen until they paid a $200 fee into a bank account.
Sgt Woodbridge said most victims had been ''quite reluctant'' and nervous to report the scam to police.
Internet and phone providers were able to unlock the devices and Sgt Woodbridge asked victims to contact the providers in the first instance.
Sgt Woodbridge said police had no association with any of the websites.
Police also encouraged web users to protect their devices with appropriate anti-virus software.
