Virus hidden in fake FBI email

The FBI is warning internet users to beware of a virus masquerading as an email from the US law enforcement agency.

The scam emails tell the recipients that their surfing has been monitored by the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Centre and that they have accessed illegal websites.

Recipients are urged to open an attachment and answer some questions, but the attachment contains a computer virus.

"These emails 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 emails to the public in this manner," the agency said.

Opening email attachments from an unknown sender is a "risky and dangerous endeavour", it warned, as such attachments frequently contain viruses. "The FBI strongly encourages computer users not to open such attachments." The agency said that it is taking the matter seriously and is investigating. Users receiving emails of this nature are encouraged to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Centre here.

See also:

Mass-mailers oust Trojans as main threat

The advice remains the same: do not click on attachments  02 Mar 2005

Zafi-D and Netsky top virus charts

But Bagle and Sober will be the ones to watch  01 Mar 2005

Scammers build 'sucker lists' of victims

Get duped by one fraudster, get chased by more  10 Feb 2005

FBI warns of tsunami email scams

Heartless fraudsters beneath contempt  06 Jan 2005

Gone phishing

Phishing is becoming ever more prevalent and ever more dangerous  29 Nov 2004

E-commerce faces a crisis of trust

Online trade could be irreparably damaged unless firms do more to combat scams  17 Nov 2004

Security

The latest wave of cyber-crimes and acts of vandalism have demonstrated once again that many systems are still vulnerable to attack.  15 Apr 2004

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