DOJ Warns Public of Fraudulent Spam

The Department of Justice has recently become aware of fraudulent spam e-mail messages claiming to be from DOJ. Based upon complaints from the public, it is believed that the fraudulent messages are addressed "Dear Citizen." The messages are believed to assert that the recipients or their businesses have been the subject of complaints filed with DOJ and also forwarded to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, such e-mail messages may provide a case number, and state that the complaint was "filled [sic] by Mr. Henry Stewart." A DOJ logo may appear at the top of the e-mail message or in an attached file. Finally, the message may include an attachment that supposedly contains a copy of the complaint and contact information for Mr. Stewart.

These e-mail messages are a hoax. Do not respond.

The Department of Justice did not send these unsolicited e-mail messages -- and explained that they would not send such messages to the public via e-mail. Similar hoaxes have been recently perpetrated in the names of various governmental entities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service. E-mail users should be especially wary of unsolicited warning messages that purport to come from U.S. governmental agencies directing them to click on file attachments or to provide sensitive personal information.

These spam e-mail messages are bogus and should be immediately deleted. Computers may be put at risk simply by an attempt to examine these messages for signs of fraud. It is possible that by "double-clicking" on attachments to these messages, recipients will cause malicious software -- e.g., viruses, keystroke loggers, or other Trojan horse programs -- to be launched on their computers.

Do not open any attachment to such messages. Delete the e-mail. Empty the deleted items folder. If you have received this, or a similar hoax, please file a complaint.