Curse

knives · Nov 23, 2005, 01:35 AM // 01:35

I recently got this email from what seems to be someone from the FBI. What worries me is that although it seems authentic, I have a feeling that it is not. The address is [email protected], but I'm not sure if thats even a valid email address, or they are somehow masking their original email address with this one. Also, the email address I blanked out is not my email address, and does not resemble mine even in the slightest bit. So I am just curious as to what the credibility of this letter is? Its attached, and I am confused.

AlphaSt0rm · Nov 23, 2005, 01:36 AM // 01:36

You can make any e-mail look like it appears from anyone. Usually people do that then change the replyto:, so it looks official. Other than that I'm not sure. What have you been up to anyway =P

Hot Dead · Nov 23, 2005, 01:39 AM // 01:39

It doesnt have all of their flashy logos on the email, could be a fake...
Have you or anyone you know used your computer to go on illegal sites? If so, then its true or someone is invading your privacy, and if not, you know its a fake

knives · Nov 23, 2005, 01:40 AM // 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaSt0rm

You can make any e-mail look like it appears from anyone. Usually people do that then change the replyto:, so it looks official. Other than that I'm not sure. What have you been up to anyway =P

Yeah I knew there was a way to mask emails, so thats what made me confused. I have not been going anywhere besides here, gwonline, google (haven't been there for awhile), and news websites like cnn etc. I have also been to my gmail account as well. What I wonder is what is an illegal website? Isn't what you post on the internet as legal as it can get? And if it was illegal, why isn't it shutdown? Thats what made me skeptical. I also downloaded the .zip file, and it was empty. The only people using my computer are me and my brother, who has a laptop of his own, but uses this one just to print things like essays and the like.

FCtSteveO · Nov 23, 2005, 01:42 AM // 01:42

This might be legit, a family member reviewed this which works for the bureau and told me that they are giving warnings now to people for going on illegal links. They do this because some people do not know about these sites so they are warned first, if I were you I would review which sites you looked at make sure nothing is going on like file sharing because they will act if you procede with visiting these sites.

ALTOUGH there is a virus going around that says they are the FBI which I would be careful opening just for your information.

I would phone them just to make sure this is not some prank of some sort because my mother told me they always have the logo of the FBI on their emails.

d4nowar · Nov 23, 2005, 01:42 AM // 01:42

Run a spyware.

I'm willing to bet there was something in that zip file that you don't know about.

knives · Nov 23, 2005, 01:46 AM // 01:46

Ok so far I have heard from two people that have said that the FBI always have their logo on their emails, and which this one apparently doesn't. But it could also be real. I am running a norton scan as I type to check out anything in particular..

FCtSteveO · Nov 23, 2005, 01:47 AM // 01:47

This is most likley a sort of scam/virus if you know for a fact if you havnt visited that many websites. If nothing shows up I would call them just to make sure anyways as I mentioned before.

Swampgirl Inez · Nov 23, 2005, 01:50 AM // 01:50

I would call the FBI too. They'd be able to tell you if it is fake (I'm pretty sure it is) and they might even be able to use this email and attachment as some kind of evidence.

I also noticed that this email just gives a name and a general contact info. The guy listed has no title, department or extension to be contacted.

Hot Dead · Nov 23, 2005, 01:50 AM // 01:50

How big was the zip file attached to the message?

Green Booger · Nov 23, 2005, 01:51 AM // 01:51

first of all, FBI dont send any emails- if they need answers, they will come to ur door and have a warrant- i got that from the news after the 9/11 incident. Also, u first have to think if the links were relaly illegal or if u even went to any.

Xue Yi Liang · Nov 23, 2005, 01:53 AM // 01:53

every time I get suspicious email I just log onto my mac and open it there. You'd be surprised at the junk that people try to sneak onto your system.

I save all the evil ".exe" and ".zip" files in a mac folder in case I need to send a whole batch of these to some jerk.

knives · Nov 23, 2005, 01:55 AM // 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hot Dead

How big was the zip file attached to the message?

Ermm..I think 127 bytes as shown in the email? Or I could be wrong. Yeah, I was kind of worried, and thought that the FBI would send a written letter not an email one. Ok, I know now. Thanks for the help.

Narada · Nov 23, 2005, 01:55 AM // 01:55

I googled your buddy Steve Allison along with the phrase "FBI" and there was no correlation. For someone in the position the letter claimed you'd think there was some documentation of his existence, no?

I do know of a way to falsify email addresses through connecting to a mail server on the SMTP port with Telnet, so I wouldn't take this email too seriously. On the other hand, I agree with the others in suggesting you at least check this with the FBI.

D.E.V.i.A.N.C.E · Nov 23, 2005, 02:03 AM // 02:03

its a total setup

your first reaction would be; WTF WHAT SITES? *click zip file*

anyhow I doubt anything bad within 127Bytes... but who knows..

and since when does the FBI have faith in anything?

I declar this hoax mail.

for more info on hoax's goto
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=hoaxes

Xue Yi Liang · Nov 23, 2005, 02:47 AM // 02:47

If the FBI needed to talk to you they'd come knocking on your door - they wouldn't send you an email.

FCtSteveO · Nov 23, 2005, 03:52 AM // 03:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Booger

first of all, FBI dont send any emails- if they need answers, they will come to ur door and have a warrant- i got that from the news after the 9/11 incident. Also, u first have to think if the links were relaly illegal or if u even went to any.

That is not true, they do send emails which they are required to do now as warnings since some people dont know which are illegal. If they come to your door then you are going to be accused for something but these emails are just warnings. Each email MUST have the bureau logo and if it does it is most likley legit but the ones that do these fake emails know why not to put the logo on.

If I got one of these I would unzip it just because I know what to do if it is a virus, well Id have someone that knows what to do next to me

.

Xue Yi Liang · Nov 23, 2005, 04:26 AM // 04:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCtSteveO

That is not true, they do send emails which they are required to do now as warnings since some people dont know which are illegal. If they come to your door then you are going to be accused for something but these emails are just warnings. Each email MUST have the bureau logo and if it does it is most likley legit but the ones that do these fake emails know why not to put the logo on.

...are you wearing a wire?

chris_nin00 · Nov 23, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang

...are you wearing a wire?

He can't tell you...

FCtSteveO · Nov 23, 2005, 04:51 AM // 04:51

Am I wearing a wire?, no but my mother is on the ERT and knows this stuff.