An Increase of Internet Schemes Purportedly from the FBI

The Internet Crime Complaint Center continues to receive reports of fraudulent emails misrepresenting the FBI and/or Director Robert S. Mueller III. The lottery endorsements and inheritance notification emails give the appearance of legitimacy because they contain pictures of the FBI Director and/or the FBI seal, letterhead, and banners. Other fraudulent schemes representing the FBI claim to be from domestic as well as international offices, and they range from threat/ extortion emails and online auction scams to web site monitoring containing malicious computer program attachments.

What you can do to protect yourself
Be cautious of email referencing the FBI, Director Mueller, or any other FBI official endorsing any type of Internet activity. Be protective of all your personal and financial information - never click on attachments or links contained in unsolicited emails.

We also suggest you sign up for our Fraud Prevention e-LERT. Our Fraud Prevention e-LERT will immediately advise you when we have added a new article or warning to the ‘Fraud Alert' section of our website.