Scammers are reportedly preying on former Megaupload users, attempting to extort money in an email sent out threatening to sue for copyright infringement if victims of the scam don’t pay a service fee. Megaupload was shutdown in January by the federal government and scammers are trying to take full advantage of unsuspecting former users of the site.

Digital Trends reported today that the scammer is posing as a fake law firm under the name “Dr. Kroner and Colleagues” from Munich. The email threatens former Megaupload users with a 10,000 Euro fine for copyright infringement – avoidable, however, by paying a 147 Euro fee right now.

The scam emails contain fake IP addresses and timestamps but lacks the “cease and desist” statement common in these types of scams. Digital Trends points out the fake emails contain spelling errors and calls Megaupload a “peer-to-peer network,” which is an inaccurate characterization of the Megaupload website.

The Munich Bar Association has no knowledge of a Dr. Klaus Kroner or his law firm, according to Digital Trends. The scammer’s website, and the fictitious financial services website to which the extorted money supposedly goes, are registered to the same person. Both have an Austrian registration.

Howard Gantman, vice president of the Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA), confirmed that the MPAA will not sue individuals for copyright infringement, but will pursue legal action against Megaupload. Gantman told Wired the file sharing site caused $500 million worth of “harm” to the owners of the copyrighted material illegally obtained by Megaupload users.

Users who receive one of these emails should not click on any associated links. Messages should be reported to an email provider and then deleted.