FBI warns of online scams associated with tsunami disaster

Avoiding the Latest Phishing Attacks Intercept Spam & Viruses Web Security SaaS: The Next Generation of Web Security Spam Spikes: A Real Risk to Your Business Sign up to receive Security Resource Alerts

January 06, 2005 (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.

Print this Story

Send Us Feedback

E-mail this Story

Digg this Story

Slashdot this Story

"This company's infrastructure group is running a disaster recovery exercise with a reluctant participant: an IT manager who's notorious as..." Read more... "It's IT Blogwatch: in which Mozilla's Firefox Web browser continues to gain market share, smashing records as it does so...." Read more... Read more Security posts or See all Blogs

Microsoft promises four patches next week Google gives away home-cooked Web application security scanner Expect iPhone, Fourth of July scams, security firm says More top stories...

Microsoft trumpets security additions in upcoming IE8 Apple cuts price of high-end SSD MacBook Air by $500 Ultrathin showdown: Apple MacBook Air vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X300 vs. Toshiba Portege R500

This old laptop: Revitalizing an aging notebook on the cheap All it takes is a couple hours and about $125 to breathe new life into an old laptop. Here's how. Bill Gates moves on Is Microsoft's Golden Age over? What are Gates' most memorable quotes? Find out in Computerworld's complete coverage of the end of the Bill Gates era at Microsoft. Five things you should never tell your boss There are some things your CIO definitely doesn't want to hear. Also don't miss the flipside, Five things you should always tell your boss. Hands-On: Firefox 3 fixes what's broke and keeps what's right With its latest version, Mozilla's browser continues to raise the bar for what Web browsers should be. Windows Vista A to Z Reviews, analyses, how-tos, visual tours, hot issues and predictions about Microsoft's new OS. More Continuing Coverage After 9/11: Homeland SecurityAsk a Premier 100 IT LeaderBlackBerry Legal BattleData Security BreachesElectronic VotingFirefoxH-1B VisasHP's Boardroom ScandalHandheld DevicesHurricane Katrina AftermathMicrosoft Legal IssuesMicrosoft's VistaOpen SourceRFID TechnologySCO's Linux FightSarbanes-Oxley ActSpamVoice Over IPWi-FiWindows Meta File VulnerabilityWindows XP Service Pack 3 IT Careers 2010 Four years from now, the IT field will be a vastly different place. Will you be ready? More Special Reports Premier 100 IT Leaders 2007 Best in Class2006 Computerworld Horizon Awards2006 Premier 100 IT Leaders2006 Salary Survey2007 Best Places to Work in IT2007 IT Forecast2007 Premier 100 IT Leaders40 Years of ComputerworldASPs, Take TwoBest Places to Work in IT 2003Best Places to Work in IT 2004Best Places to Work in IT 2005Best Places to Work in IT 2006Business Intelligence Home RunsBusiness Intelligence: Smarter BIBusiness Intelligence: The Future of BICRM Goes VerticalCRM: Sober CRMCareer Planning Guide 2005Careers: IT Profession 2010Computerworld Horizon Awards 2005Data Management: Mining for GemsData Management: Taming Data ChaosDevelopment: Hard-Workin' Web SitesDevelopment: New Tools New ChoicesDevelopment: The New World of Application DevelopmentDevelopment: The Web Services TsunamiDevelopment: Web Services HurdlesDisaster Recovery: Preparing for the WorstE-commerce Grows UpE-mail/Groupware: Big DecisionsFaces of Mobile ITForecast 2006Global MobileHardware: Multiple Cores, Multiple ChallengesHardware: On-Demand Un-HypedHardware: The Shape of Things to ComeHorizon Awards: 10 Cool Cutting Edge TechnologiesIT Management: Guide to Managing VendorsIT Management: Navigating Global ITIT Management: Recovery AheadIT Management: The Future of ITIT Management: The Resourceful Project ManagerInnovative Technology Awards 2004Management: Reinventing ITMicrosoft in TransitionMobile/Wireless Leaders and LaggardsMobile/Wireless: The Untethered WorkerMobile/Wireless: Tiny Gadgets, Huge CostsNetwork Management: Taking ControlNetworking: Turbulence Ahead!Networking: VoIP Goes MainstreamOperating Systems: In the Slow LaneOperating Systems: Linux Goes GlobalOperating Systems: Should You Nix Unix?Outsourcing: Offshore Buyer's GuideOutsourcing: Outsourcing DangersPremier 100 IT Leaders 2004 Best in ClassPremier 100 IT Leaders 2005 Best in ClassROI: Do the Math!Salary Survey 2003Salary Survey 2004Salary Survey 2005Security Action PlanSecurity: Compliance HeadachesSecurity: Proactive SecuritySecurity: Risk and RewardSecurity: Tips From Security ProsSouped-up SecurityStorage: Battling ComplexityStorage: Cheap & Secure Data StoresStorage: Stretching Your Storage DollarsStorage: The Lean Storage MachineStorage: The New Rules of StorageStorage: The Ultimate Backup GuideSupply Chain: Missing LinksSupply Chain: RFID Reality CheckThe Business of SecurityWeb 2.0 SecurityWireless: Wireless At Work All Zones Application Performance Zone Business Continuity Zone Data Center Management Zone Enterprise-Class Security Zone The File Data Management Zone Grid Computing on Windows Zone Security Management Zone ITIL Best Practices Zone The SAS Zone Storage Virtualization Zone Business Intelligence and Analytics Zone See your link here

Why SaaS is Vital to Email and Web Security Why SaaS is Vital to Email and Web Security Download this webcast, free, compilments of Webroot Software Go to the webcast  Computerworld Executive Bulletin: Building a Robust Antivirus Defense Download this Executive Bulletin (a $49.95 value) for free, compliments of MessageLabs. (Source: MessageLabs) Antivirus software alone isn't enough to prevent today's speedy, sophisticated virus attacks. Security managers should consider multitiered approaches that include behavior scanning, appliances that check e-mail for worms, and restricting user access to dangerous Web sites. Download this Executive Bulletin (a $49.95 value) for free, compliments of MessageLabs, to learn more. Download this executive briefing  White Papers Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Deploying Virtualized NetWare on Linux Whitepaper Toward More Flexible, Next-Generation Collaboration Solutions Driving Business Success Through Workgroup Choice and Flexibility View more whitepapers  How to Offer the Strongest SSL Encryption Get this white paper now! (Source: Verisign) Learn all the facts about guaranteeing maximum SSL strength to every Web site visitor, regardless of browser type or operating system. Stronger encryption levels keep your business safe from online threats and allow your customers to feel safe transacting on your site. Download this white paper

• Microsoft promises four patches next week
• Google gives away home-cooked Web application security scanner
• Expect iPhone, Fourth of July scams, security firm says
• More top stories 

Security Management Zone Security management is the process of developing a comprehensive data protection plan. It takes into account all potential threats, the existing network environment, the future needs of the organization, and lays out a multi-tiered blueprint to integrate the security technology needed to combat these threats. CDW can help keep your network and data secure. Visit the CDW Security Management Zone now See All Zones

In Security Security's important, and risk must be addressed, right? Sure, but watch for four signs your policies go a bit overboard. Click here to read the latest column by Jon Espenschied

Data Protection Strategies Leveraging Replication As dependence on continuous access to critical data grows, so does the importance of avoiding service interruption. Four data protection strategies for common scenarios are compared. When recoverability matters, depend on Double-Take Software to protect and recover business critical data and applications. Download this white paper now!

The Spy Files For Congress to do anything that helps protect consumers and the critical Internet infrastructure as a whole, it must pass laws that require proactive processes to protect computers, not that tell people how to deal with the resulting mess, says Ira Winkler. Click here to read the latest column by Ira Winkler