Madonna and Salma Hayek's names are being used in new computer scams "piggy-backing" on the deadly swine flu outbreak.
Users have been warned by experts that they should be be wary of emails with the subjects "Madonna caught swine flu!" and "Salma Hayek caught swine flu!" as scams are using the names to make a quick profit and infect systems around the world.
McAfee Avert Labs said it had "uncovered a spike in new spam scams piggy-backing on the swine flu scare in an attempt to peddle pharmaceuticals" and added that celebrity names were being used to attract users' attention.
Principle security analyst Greg Day said it was a "sad, everyday reality" and those behind the scam were playing on people's fears to try to sell the medications.
Mr Day urged people to avoid the emails and said it was unlikely anyone would receive what they ordered.
"If you're lucky, you'll get nothing," he said.
"If not, then you'll be sent something, but it won't be what you're expecting."
He also warned anyone receiving emails not to click a link or visit a website for more information.
"By doing that, you're self-inflicting with some mailware as they're trying to get access to your system," he said.
He added that once a system was compromised, the amount of damage done was limited only by the malicious imaginations of those sending the emails.
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