Scam e-mails warn of FBI monitoring, agency says

The F.B.I. on Monday said e-mails made to look like they come from the agency are warning computer users that the F.B.I. is monitoring their Internet use.

"These scam e-mails tell the recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the F.B.I. and that they have accessed illegal Web sites," the F.B.I. said in a statement. "The e-mails then direct recipients to open an attachment and answer questions."

"These e-mails did not come from the F.B.I.," the statement said. "Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know that the F.B.I. does not engage in the practice of sending unsolicited e-mails to the public in this manner."

Opening e-mail attachments from an unknown sender is risky, the F.B.I. said, because such attachments can contain viruses that infect the recipient's computer.

The agency said it was investigating the matter and urged anyone who received such an e-mail to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.