A photo of a laptop keyboard is shown in a photo taken September 7, 2010. (QMI Agency/JIM WELLS)

GRAND PRAIRIE, ALTA. - Mounties are warning the public of a computer scam that sends out messages claiming to be from the RCMP and saying you must pay $100 for making illegal downloads – including pornography.

Police said the scam tells people to pay up within 72 hours or they will be violating a section of the Criminal Code.

Police want to inform the public of the scam in case they fall for it, since it claims to be from police, said Ellen Archibald, acting media relations officer for the Grande Prairie RCMP.