This story was just too good to pass up. Via Digital Rogue, I just found out that the FBI has become the target of a deliciously ingenious email virus hoax. It seems people have been getting emails which appear as though they are from legitimate “fbi.gov” email addresses. The body of the emails contain text which indicates that the recipient’s online activities have been monitored, and that they have been visiting illegal sites. There are directions to open an attachment and fill out a form to send back to the FBI, presumably to be prosecuted. Of course, opening this attachment triggers a virus.

Frankly, I think this is hilarious, and I bet it tricks TONS of people. I had a good idea once for a way to spread viruses via email. The subject line of the email would say “Here is the virus you requested!”