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FBI Says Spammer Posing As Red Cross

September 12, 2005
The FBI says it has begun investigating an email phishing operation disguised as an American Red Cross fundraising appeal. The bureau says hundreds of thousands of the emails have been sent.

Hurricane Katrina • The End of the World: Louisiana is Disappearing • Mississippi Sues State Farm Over Katrina Coverage • Katrina's Legacy: A Flood-Damaged Handicap Van • Payback: State Farm Writes Off Mississippi • Judge Nixes State Farm Katrina Settlement • Judge Rules Against State Farm in Katrina Case • Victimized Twice: Hurricane Victims Scammed by Unscrupulous Contractors • New Orleans Refloats Its Cruise Ship Business • One Year Later: To Miss New Orleans --- • Katrina Archives --- What's New? • Continuing coverage of Katrina recovery efforts

The email bears the Red Cross logo and the general typeface used by the organization. It requests money, with donations for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, accepted by credit card.

The FBI says consumers are also fooled into thinking their donation is legitimate, since their Web browser is directed to the real Red Cross Web site once the donation has been made.

The bureau says the biggest tip-off that the operation is a scam is the very email itself. Officials say most legitimate charities never request donations by using spam, and the FBI says consumers should never respond to an unsolicited email.

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