HONOLULU -- Charlene Thornton, special agent-in-charge (SAC) of the Honolulu Office of the FBI warned the public about fraudulent e-mails coming into Hawaii that claim to be originating from the FBI.

These e-mails often seek personal information or payments from recipients.

The fraudulent e-mails contain pictures of the FBI Director, seal, letterhead, and/or banners to appear legitimate.

The content of the fake e-mails can include notifications of cash prizes or inheritance proceeds that do not exist, SAC Thorton said.

Thorton says other claim to be the FBI charging fines via e-mail - a practice that does not exist in reality.

"The FBI does not send out e-mails soliciting personal information from citizens," Thornton said.

The SAC says these e-mails often turn into "advance fee schemes" in which the recipients are asked to send money to the defrauders to receive larger amounts of money later.

If you receive an e-mail claiming to be from the FBI, contact the FBI field office at (808) 566-4300 to verify its authenticity, and report your case of internet fraud to FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.