FBI warns of online scams associated with tsunami disaster

One 'relief' site can infect a visitor's computer with a virus

By Linda Rosencrance

January 6, 2005 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - The FBI today alerted the public to a variety of online scams asking users to send money for the victims of the recent tsunami disaster.
Over the past week, complaints about the scams have come into the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.
The FBI said the IC3 has received reports of Web sites being set up allegedly to assist with collection and relief efforts for the victims of the Dec. 26 disaster. Some of the schemes being used by the scam sites involve unsolicited e-mail asking for monetary donations. Another involves a fraudulent relief donation site that contains an embedded Trojan exploit that can infect computers with a virus.
And some users who have posted messages and e-mail addresses on the Web looking for missing loved ones say they have been contacted by people offering to help them for a fee.
The FBI said it would be "aggressively pursuing those who would attempt to victimize philanthropic individuals."
The FBI declined today to provide specific examples of the scams to Computerworld, however.
In its statement, the agency offered advice for those wishing to help victims of the tsunami:

Do not respond to any unsolicited spam regarding the disaster.

Be skeptical of individuals claiming to be surviving victims or foreign government officials asking for help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.

To ensure that contributions to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations are used correctly, go directly to the Web sites of recognized charities and aid organizations, rather than following a link to another site.

Attempt to verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources to confirm the existence of the organization as well as its nonprofit status.

Be leery of e-mail that claims to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, since the files may contain viruses. Open only attachments from known senders.

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information, or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident, should notify the IC3, the FBI said.

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