The Federal Trade Commission is warning of a fake funeral e-mail scam that can infect computers with malicious software.

Scammers are sending bogus e-mails with the subject line "funeral notification," according to the FTC. The message appears to be from a legitimate funeral home, offers condolences, and invites the recipient to click on a link for more information about the upcoming "celebration of your friend’s life service."

However, the link leads to a foreign domain where malware is downloaded to the e-mail recipient's computer.

Malware, short for “malicious software," includes viruses and spyware installed on your computer without your consent. These programs can be used to monitor your online activity and can cause your computer to crash. Criminals use malware to steal personal information and commit fraud.

The FTC, the nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends that end users delete any "funderal notification" e-mails without clicking on any links they may contain.

For general tips about avoiding and getting rid of malware, the FTC offers this Web site.