UPS has issued a warning about a new computer virus circulating as an attachment to emails purporting to originate from the "UPS Packet Service." The warning is authentic. The virus is real.

The bogus messages, titled "UPS Delivery Failure" or "Your Tracking #," etc., claim a parcel sent by the user was undeliverable due to an incorrect mailing address. The user is instructed to open an attachment containing a copy of the invoice. The attachment actually contains a virus which may infect the user’s computer.

As a general rule, Internet users should always be wary of opening unknown file attachments, and maintain up-to-date antivirus protection on their computers at all times.

Text of the UPS alert:

Attention Virus Warning

We have become aware there is a fraudulent email being sent that says it is coming from UPS and leads the reader to believe that a UPS shipment could not be delivered. The reader is advised to open an attachment reportedly containing a waybill for the shipment to be picked up.

This email attachment contains a virus. We recommend that you do not open the attachment, but delete the email immediately.

UPS may send official notification messages on occasion, but they rarely include attachments. If you receive a notification message that includes an attachment and are in doubt about its authenticity, please contact customerservice@ups.com.

Please note that UPS takes its customer relationships very seriously, but cannot take responsibility for the unauthorized actions of third parties.

Thank you for your attention.