FBI alerts public to recent email scam

[The Straight Story]

FBI ALERTS PUBLIC TO RECENT E-MAIL SCHEME

E-mails purporting to come from FBI are phony

Washington, D.C. - The FBI today warned the public to avoid falling victim to an on-going mass e-mail scheme wherein computer users receive unsolicited e-mails purportedly sent by the FBI. These scam e-mails tell the recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center and that they have accessed illegal web sites. The e-mails then direct recipients to open an attachment and answer questions. The attachments contain a computer virus.

These e-mails did not come from the FBI. Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know that the FBI does not engage in the practice of sending unsolicited e-mails to the public in this manner.

Opening e-mail attachments from an unknown sender is a risky and dangerous endeavor as such attachments frequently contain viruses that can infect the recipient’s computer. The FBI strongly encourages computer users not to open such attachments.

The FBI takes this matter seriously and is investigating. Users receiving e-mails of this nature are encouraged to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center via http://www.ic3.gov.


http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel05/022205.htm

[trumad]

1. I got one today...

Good thing I know how these scammers work... I deleted it.

[dweller]

2. did you report it?

:eyes:

dp

[trumad]

3. no

I get a dozen or so scam emails a week ... I just deleted it.

[dweller]

4. butbutbut, the FBI wants you to report it...

yeah, i know, i get 20-30 so called hot deals a day along with every new software deal, internet drug savings, etc.

spammers are the stupidest lot ever to enter the cybersphere i guess. i suppose if the FBI had been tracing my path on the net, and i'd been to an 'illegal site', they'd send me a questionaire too.

and i'd fill it out, just to be helpful and throw them off... uh huh.

dp

[TahitiNut]

5. Easy reporting at http://www.spamcop.net/

I have an email account there and it screens 98% (quite accurately) of the spam sent to me (over 18,000 pieces in 3 years). I report all spam. All of it.

I don't believe it (yet) costs anything to use SpamCop. I think registration is free. We who pay for the services cover the costs for those who don't.

http://www.spamcop.net/