Red Cross warns of Internet tsunami scammers

CRUEL scammers are using the Internet to steal tsunami donations.

The manager of Red Cross Taranaki, Karen Lawson, said the societywas aware of hoax appeal e-mails claiming to have come from the RedCross.

"New Zealand Red Cross does not send unsolicited e-mails to thepublic requesting donations," she said.

Yesterday, New Plymouth resident Val West said her daughter hadreceived two bogus tsunami appeal e-mails in her Hotmail account.

Mrs West said the e-mails gave a bank account number wheredonations could be made.

Ms Lawson said any e-mails requesting donations to the SantaMaria International Response Fund, in partnership with theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societiesshould be immediately deleted.

The only way to make an online donation to the society's tsunamiappeal was through the Red Cross website, she said.