The FBI has issued a nationwide alert asking people to watch out for e-mails claiming that they come from the agency and asking for personal information.
An FBI statement said the Phishing scheme came to the agency's attention after its Internet Crime Complaint Center received numerous reports from people who had received e-mails that contained pictures of FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, or the FBI seal.
Some of the e-mails claiming to come from the FBI domestic and overseas offices contained threats. Others had malware attachments.
"The social engineering technique of using the FBI's name is to intimidate and convince the recipient that the e-mail is legitimate," the FBI says.
The FBI does not send out e-mails asking for personal information from people, and it doesn't endorse any Internet sites or activities.