The FBI Doesn't Want Your Data. Really.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is not after your personal information, the agency insists. If you've received e-mail seeking personal information that appears to be from FBI Director Robert Mueller or another FBI official, it's fake, the agency warned Tuesday."The FBI and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) have increasingly received reports of fraudulent schemes misrepresenting FBI agents, officials, and/or FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III," the U.S. law enforcement agency said in a statement. "The fraudulent e-mails give the appearance of legitimacy due to the usage of pictures of the FBI Director, seal, letterhead, and/or banners."

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

Indeed, one would imagine the FBI has the resources to obtain such data without asking, were it so inclined.

Such scams, however, may prove short-lived. Once the U.S. government gets unfettered access to the personal information and electronic communications of its citizens, as National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell reportedly advocates, everyone in America will recognize such phishing attacks for what they are because the government wouldn't bother asking for information already in its possession.

I feel more secure already.