http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...279545,00.html
People donating to the tsunami relief effort are being targeted by bogus collectors trying to cash in on the disaster or spread computer viruses, crime experts have warned.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) has urged people to be vigilant when making donations.
It says fraudsters are sending emails trying to gather personal or financial information to cash in on inheritance funds, asking for money to be placed in banks overseas and offering to locate loved ones.
The service also says false websites have been set up in the guise of legitimate relief organisations, one of which can affect computers with a virus if accessed.
A spokesman said: "We do not in any way wish to dissuade members of the public from donating money to the registered charity tsunami appeals.
"But we urge them to exercise vigilance in order to prevent and disrupt these and other possible criminal scams."
Scotland Yard says it is investigating a number of charity websites set up in the wake of the earthquake.
A spokesman for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group for 12 of the major charities, has also warned of bogus emails.
One was received by Oxfam asking for a donation of £1.50 to be paid on a phone number which cost further money.
The spokesman said any faxes or emails purporting to be from the DEC were hoaxes.
Suspicious activity can be reported to NCIS at
[email protected]
