The pictures of people wearing face masks and growing concern about being infected with the swine flu have created a potential bonanza for scammers feeding off the fear.

Consumer Web sites now warn of e-mail scams related to the outbreak. They arrive on your computer via an unsolicited e-mail message and can wreak havoc in your computer.

"Sometimes just by viewing the e-mail, you can actually download or cause to download a malicious code like a Trojan Horse or virus," said William Hatcher with the FBI in New Orleans. "Usually they require you to click on a link or attachment. We advise no one click on a link in an e-mail that is unsolicited."

And the Better Business Bureau said there are also businesses about which to worry. Web sites have been popping up everywhere offering so-called swine flu personal protection kits at rather piggish prices.

For example, one site sells a 5-gallon plastic bucket called an "extended swine flu protection kit" containing personal hygiene products and masks, now discounted to only $125 plus shipping.

"The main thing is going to be the inflated price of these so-called kits and what they are offering," said Dick Mitchell with the BBB. "And if you go out on the marketplace and shop these things, for example go to a Wal-Mart or go to any medical supply house, and you can find these same items they are offering at these prices much, much cheaper."

The FBI said that since the onset of swine flu, they have noted a tremendous jump in the registration of Web sites with the words "swine" or "swine flu" in them, which they say is usually an indication of fraudulent activity.

The United States Emergency Readiness team released these tips for consumers: Filter spam, don't trust unsolicited e-mail and be cautious of attachments.