Recently the FBI released an advisory about email scams posing as official communications from the FBI which attempt to compel recipients to click on links to malware that can track your keystrokes to collect passwords and account numbers, or corrupt files or high jack your computing resources.
Steve Dupre is a Special Agent with the FBI Sacramento Office.
“The email scams are random, and are very similar to the old fashioned caller i.d. spoofing that scam artists used before the Internet to get you to pick up the phone thinking the incoming call is legitimate or urgent,” Dupre said. “The government does not use email as a first means of contact. If the FBI has official business, the first contact will be in person.”
Dupre forwarded a sample of a FBI scam email, which has grammatical errors but nevertheless uses official looking seals and titles, with threats of being prosecuted if you do not comply by clicking on a link.
“If you receive something from any government via email do not click on any of the links provided. Send a reply with the word ‘test’, and if it is not legitimate an auto reply will say not valid email address,” Dupre said.
Parent Resources
(Ref: 509-e)
Comments