FBI officials have issued a warning about e-mail scams, which have targeted several people in Utah with fraudulent letters requesting money or personal information.
“We may be more willing to let our guard down during this time of year because we are in the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, you should never let your guard down,” said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Petra Butler-Castleberry, who supervises the FBI cyber division.
According to a prepared statement, many of the e-mails appear to be sent by government agencies. One scam claims an investigation found the recipient is a victim of fraud and requests their personal information, according to FBI officials.
Other e-mails state the recipients are subjects of criminal investigations or that they have won lottery jackpots. They are asked to send money, usually about $300, either to collect their winnings or to get themselves out of legal troubles, according to federal officials.
Clicking on any links provided in these e-mails may download computer viruses, Butler-Castleberry said.
People tend to send and receive more e-mails during the holidays, he explained.
. “Hit delete,” says FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Ken Porter. “Don’t get fooled into sending money or giving away your personal information.”
FBI officials urge consumers to visit www.ic3.gov/default.aspx, a Web site that posts information and warnings about Internet scams. More information about cyber crimes is available at fbi.gov.