AN INCREASE IN INTERNET SCHEMES PURPORTEDLY FROM THE FBI

07/17/07 We have increasingly received reports of fraudulent schemes misrepresenting the FBI and Director Robert S. Mueller III. The e-mails may include pictures of the FBI Director, the seal, letter head, and banners. The letters may also claim to come from domestic or foreign FBI offices.

Most of the schemes that use the Director’s name or refer to the FBI are lottery endorsements and inheritance notifications. They also include threat and extortion e-mails, website monitoring containing malicious computer program attachments (malware), and online auction scams.

Beware of any unsolicited e-mail referencing the FBI, Director Mueller or any other FBI official endorsing any type of Internet activity.

Fraudsters pretending to be from the FBI—which is an old trick—hope to cash in by intimidating their victims.

If you have experienced this situation please notify the IC3 by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov .