The FBI has warned of various on-line scams that exploit the
public's interest in helping victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami
disaster, from attempts to siphon donations to imbedding Trojans in
the computers of visiting net users.
False web sites have been established that pretend to be
legitimate relief organisations asking for donations – one of which
contains an imbedded Trojan exploit that can infect a visitor's
computer with a virus if accessed. Spam has been sent that offers,
for a fee, to locate loved ones who may have been a disaster
victim; or that requests that money be deposited in overseas banks
to support the tsunami relief effort.
There have also been variations on the Nigerian e-mail scam –
where unsolicited e-mails seek personal or financial information in
a purported effort to retrieve large amounts of inheritance funds
tied up in relation to the tsunami disaster.
The FBI said today that, in conjunction with domestic and
international law enforcement and industry partners, it will
aggressively pursue "those who would attempt to victimise
philanthropic individuals".
