Description:

This email is among a large number of tsunami-related email messages and Web sites circulating on the Internet.

The tunami disaster of 2004 has claimed the lives of over 150,000 people. Unfortunately, this disaster has also prompted the appearance of scams and identity theft cases.

Some email messages pretend to be from charitable institutions, while others, such as the email below, pretends to be from an affected indivudual.

While the tsunami is acknowledged as a catastrophe, and monetary donations to the victims are encouraged, Trend Micro advises users to be wary of email messages asking for donations for these victims, whether the email contains a bank account number to donate money to, or leads you to a Web site for a supposed charitable institution.

If you want to donate, please make sure you do so in a secure and verified manner.

Original Message:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mr. Ram-Kisha Narayan from KALUTARA province in SRI LANKA. I am a Fisher Man, Married with four Children. I lost my Wife, Three Children, my House and my Fisher Boat which is a means of our livelihood and survival. More than half of my village has been washed away by Flood-Waters caused by Tsunami Quake and have caused unimaginable lost of lifes and properties.

I am writing with deep sorrow and heart pain appealing for Financial Assistance from you, on behalf of myself, my only surviving child and many of the Victims. We know individualy, it will take many years if at all to overcome this tragedy, but coming together as a group will be much easier. So we, group of Fishers in Kalutara Village came together as Co-operative union to fight a common cause.

We the people of Kalutara province and the Nation of Sri Lanka are very grateful for the support received so far from People of goodwill all over the world, but for the magnitude of the destructions of infrastructures, lost of livelihood and the amount of affected Victims, that is why we as group are asking for more assistance. The fund reased will be used most importanly to buy Fisher Boat(s) or repair some of our damaged Boats to be able to return to nomal life and also to master Our future.

Please Channel Your Donations to:

Name: K, Alodewou (Tsunami)
Acc. Nr.: 9257901
Bank: Postbank,Groningen Netherland

Thank you and may God bless you. We need your support and your prayers.

Yours Sincerely,

Ram-Kisha Narayan.