Con artists are exploiting the terrorist attacks on September 11 to bilk people, according to the National Consumers League, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. NCL’s hotline for reporting telemarketing and Internet fraud, has begun to receive information about disaster-related scams. (To go to this hotline, go to www.rbernardo.com to Consumer Protection.) "These frauds are typical of the way crooks take advantage of tragic events for their personal gain," says Susan Grant, director of the NFIC/IFW.

Suspected scams reported so far:

• A caller falsely claiming to represent the Readers Digest sweepstakes told a consumer that her winnings could not be delivered because the mail service was disrupted. He asked her to wire him $2,500 in order to expedite delivery.
• A man received an email asking for financial support for a group of computer experts who were supposedly attempting to track Osama Bin Laden’s whereabouts. The email gave a bank account number to which donations could be deposited and the name of an individual in the country of Estonia.
• A voice mail message asked for help in raising $1 million for victims of the attacks. When the consumer called the number back he reached the answering machine for an unfamiliar telemarketing company.
• Fraudulent telemarketers, some pretending to be from Publishers Clearing House, have told consumers that donations will be made to assist in national recovery and rescue efforts if they purchase magazines or other products with their sweepstakes entries.

"Give to charities you know and trust," says Grant. "If someone claims to be collecting money that will go to charities, ask which ones and check with them directly to make sure it’s true." Consumers can confirm that charities are properly registered by contacting their state charities regulators, which are listed in the state government pages of their telephone books. Information about charities is also available from the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, 703-276-0100; www.fraud.org/