WEST PALM BEACH, FL--The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning over possible email scams involving information on the swine flu outbreak.
The BBB is warning consumers to be on the look-out for fraudulent emails and new websites aimed at taking advantage of the current situation of the swine flu outbreak.
According to an online security company, spammers began sending out email as soon as the first case of swine flu was confirmed. Many of the emails don't contain malware but do directly link customers to fraudulent online pharmacies.
A total of 250 web sites with the term "swine flu" were registered within the first few days of the outbreak, according to F-Secure Corp.
The BBB urges consumers to get any real information regarding the outbreak from
www.cdc.gov/swineflu The BBB has offered the following advice to avoid swine flu scams:
* Avoid opening e-mail from an unknown source and do not click on any links in the body of the e-mail or open any attachments. Instead, delete the e-mail or report it to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding the e-mail to spam@uce.gov
* Don’t believe online offers for vaccinations against swine flu because a vaccine does not exist. For more information on swine flu and updates on progress in fighting the outbreak, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu
