Related Resources • Virus Encyclopedia • Glossary of terms

From Other Guides • Nostradamus Unclothed • Fly Flag for Freedom

Elsewhere on the Web • Cauce.org • Terrorism-Related Scams

Most of the world watched in horror as the horrific events of September 11th, 2001 unfolded. A few, however, were busy calculating the crass manner in which they could profit. Predictably, the ugly of the world reared their heads nearly immediately - sending scam emails designed to steal charitable dollars from the Red Cross. Cauce, the Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email, warned of these terrorism-related scams, noting that they were "taking the form of unsolicited e-mail ("spam") and postings in community forums, soliciting "donations" in the name of victims of the attacks." In fact, users who responded to the call to give were instead directed to private websites where the virtual scam not only took their money, but deprived it of the Red Cross and other legitimate organizations.

Cauce recommends that users who wish to legimitally donate, do so by visiting the official Red Cross web site (http://www.redcross.org) or call 1-800-HELP-NOW. Cauce also noted that persons having trouble reaching the Red Cross directly could contribute online through PayPal (http://www.paypal.com) and Amazon (http://www.amazon.com).

Other email-borne insensitivity included messages reading, "No terrorists here! Join our porn site, turn off the TV, quit watching the crap happening in the states, and join our free site!" Dominos Pizza also appeared to exploit the catastrophe, changing their phone message to proclaim that "though the games were delayed" you could still get pizza.

The Good Guys
On the bright side, other sites such as JokeADay.com turned their messages into ones of helpfullness, directing people to ways that they might help in the face of such tragedy. Subscription-based services such as Avien, the Anti-Virus Information Exchange Network, opened their lists to discussions of the horrific events, giving members a chance to grieve along with their colleagues. Even the notorious Pud from F*dcompany.com joined in with the Good Guys, providing perspective and condolences from his site.

One piece of spam that should be welcomed into everyone's inbox was titled "Terrorism" and read:

Friday Night at 7:00 p.m. step out your door, stop your car, or step out of your establishment and light a candle. We will show the world that Americans are strong and united together against terrorism. Please pass this to everyone on your e-mail list. We need to reach everyone across the United States quickly.

The message: WE STAND UNITED - WE WILL NOT TOLERATE TERRORISM!

So after deleting the bad spam, donating to the proper places, flying the flag, and lighting a candle, keep your eye out for one more piece of good guy email: We 'll go forward from this moment, by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald.