"It Sucks to Be Me!" Sept.12, 2001 edition. Today we headline an ugly scam: web sites that pretend to be collecting money for the Red Cross to help victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

From: ScamBusters Editors
Subject: Internet ScamBusters #46 - Emergency Special Issue
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Internet ScamBusters (tm)
The #1 Publication on Internet Fraud

By Audri and Jim Lanford
© (c) 2001 Audri and Jim Lanford

Issue #46 September 12, 2001

Our hearts go out to those who were injured and those who
lost family and friends in yesterday's attacks. There are
just no words strong enough to express how we feel today.

Please, we ask each of you to take a few moments to reach
out to the victims and their families and help in whatever
way you can. But...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Make Sure Your Help Goes Where You Intended!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the wake of yesterday's events, publishing an issue of
Internet ScamBusters was the last thing on our minds. Given
the info below, we hope you'll see why we felt we had no
other responsible option.

We've received reports of spammers sending out calls for
assistance for "emergency relief funds," and directing the
recipients to contribute money to the Red Cross - through
the spammers' web sites.

Many of these spammers are trying to steal money and
credit card numbers.

Do NOT respond to these emails!

If you wish to contribute money to an organization, we
recommend that you do so directly through the organization's
site, or to a local chapter. The address for the Red Cross is

http://www.redcross.org

You can also donate by phone at 1-800-435-7669 (English
speaking) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish speaking).

Amazon.com has set up a channel through which you can donate
to the Red Cross, which may be a better choice for online
donations. The Red Cross donations page has been swamped all
day, and Amazon makes it very easy to donate from $1 to $50.
Just go to:

http://www.amazon.com/

Over $767,000 has been donated to the Red Cross so far by
people at the Amazon site.

We normally don't ask this -- and please make sure you do NOT
spam this issue: however, we'd like you to consider forwarding
this issue of Internet ScamBusters to people you know who are
new to the Internet, as well as those you think would benefit
from this issue. These sorts of scams are usually directed at
inexperienced surfers.

More carnival of wannabe computer criminals --->>

Tired of reading about people that want to be computer criminals or just plain creeps? To read about hackers who use their skills to make the world a better place, click here for "Have a Great Life."