| FBI Warning: You Visit Illegal Websites | |||
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| Netlore Archive: Beware messages purporting to originate from the FBI (or CIA) that accuse you of visiting illegal Websites. These messages are unauthorized and arrive with an attachment containing a variant of the 'Sober' virus | |||
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Variant #1:
Email example contributed by A. Edwards, 22 February 2005:
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Dear Sir/Madam, we have logged your IP-address on more than 40 illegal Websites.
Important: Please answer our questions!
Yours faithfully,
Federal Bureau of Investigation -FBI-
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Variant #2:
Email example contributed anonymously, 21 November 2005:
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Dear Sir/Madam, we have logged your IP-address on more than 30 illegal Websites.
Important:
Yours faithfully,
++++ Central Intelligence Agency -CIA-
++++ phone: (703) 482-0623
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Comments: If you receive a message like this, don't panic. Delete it. The attachment contains a worm (virus) called Sober-K (or another variant of the same malicious file). Don't open it — it can harm your computer — just delete it.
Though this message and others similar to it purport to come from the FBI or CIA, and may even sport return addresses like police@fbi.gov, they were not authorized or sent by any government agency.
FBI statement, February 22, 2005:
FBI ALERTS PUBLIC TO RECENT E-MAIL SCHEMEP.S. And, as always, make sure your antivirus software is up to date.Emails purporting to come from FBI are phony
Washington, D.C. - The FBI today warned the public to avoid falling victim to an on-going mass email scheme wherein computer users receive unsolicited e-mails purportedly sent by the FBI. These scam e-mails tell the recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center and that they have accessed illegal web sites. The emails then direct recipients to open an attachment and answer questions. The attachments contain a computer virus.
These emails did not come from the FBI. Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know that the FBI does not engage in the practice of sending unsolicited emails to the public in this manner.
Opening email attachments from an unknown sender is a risky and dangerous endeavor as such attachments frequently contain viruses that can infect the recipient’s computer. The FBI strongly encourages computer users not to open such attachments.
Sources and further reading:
FBI Email Scam Spreads Virus
eWeek, 23 February 2005Warning Issued Over Fake FBI Emails
CNET News.com, 24 February 2005FBI Alerts Public to Email Scam
FBI press release, 22 February 2005Virus Description: Sober-K Worm
F-Secure virus Descriptions
Last updated: 11/21/05
