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.
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