Nsaleshop: Katrina donor or SPAM cannibal?

I'm appalled to have to do this, but I think it's time to begin a list of sites and spammers who attempt to cannibalize donations to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Here's a copy of an email I just sent to the operators of an e-commerce site who sent me a suspicious email this morning:

Dear "Nikola" or the person behind www.Nsaleshop.com:

I received this email from you, urging me to by something from your site:

"Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm that
is still making its way across the Mid-Atlantic States, and American Red Cross
volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina's destruction,
supplying hundreds of thousands of victims left homeless with critical necessities.

You can help them, visiting our site and buying anything on this site you will incrase
the money fond wich will help us to supply hundreds of thousand victims.

WWW.NSALESHOP.COM"

I visited your Web site and I am now confused. How will buying items from you help victims of the hurricane? Other than your link to the Red Cross, I do not see any other information on your site that indicates how by "visiting our site and buying anything on this site you will incrase (sic) the money fond wich (sic) will help us supply hundreds of thousand victims." Are you donating a portion of sales? How can you prove this to me?

Please email me back immediately with an answer.

Lisa Stone

If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to buy a gray-market Clinique lipstick from these people. Has anyone else received a suspicious email like this one? Let's make a list of <del>people</del> cannibals and carpetbaggers who try to use the Internet to milk the human kindness of people. Thanks.

Update:

I've done a little more research and filed a complaint at the Internet Fraud Complaint Center.

In case my surfing can help you save time, here are some great links about charity scams:

• CNNMoney - 5 Tips: How to make sure you're really giving to a charity
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Give, but use caution
• CTV: Cyber-scams flourish in wake of Katrina

Note: I can vouch for the links to the Red Cross, Hurricane Katrina Direct Relief, the ASPCA and Project Backpack on the top right-hand of this page.

Update again: Nsaleshop responds - concerns confirmed.

I think these two emails I received in response from "Nikola" speak for themselves. Here's the first email:

"From: Nikola [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Sep 11, 2005 1:47 PM
Subject: Re: Are you a Katrina donor or a SPAM cannibal?

"When you buy something on that site, 50% of price go`s to Red Cross, that`s the deliberation between the firm`s on the site and Red Cross. No body oblige you to buy any thing, ths your free will."

In other words, Nsaleshop doesn't donate anything to the Red Cross. It's up to Nsaleshop's vendors. I wrote back again, asking the site to prove to me that their vendors donate 50 percent of purchase prices to the Red Cross (an outrageously high percentage). I have not received a response to this question. However, I did receive this email:

"From: Nikola [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Sep 11, 2005 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: Are you a Katrina donor or a SPAM cannibal?

"The best web mall.

Buy a gif for your friend , cosmtics for your girl , dvd movies, magazine , and everything what you need.

Just visit our site:  http://   WWW.NSALESHOP.COM

So I wrote back again:

"I have filed a complaint at the Internet Fraud Complaint Center about this site, which I believe inaccurately positions itself via SPAM as a Hurricane Katrina donor.

"Please cease and desist from using the pain and suffering of Hurricane Katrina victims to generate sales for your Web store.

"Please unsubscribe me from your email.

"Lisa Stone"

Again, I'm eager to hear about other such sites. Thanks.

katrina, dailyblogher

pp

Comments

[Tish G]

Thanks for posting this great info, Lisa. I haven't received anything exactly like this, but I did get a spam comment on my recent post about my friend Shane ( N.O. refugee) I was stunned. I continue to be amazed how spammers are doing what they can to try to capitalize on the disaster. just disgusting.

[Lisa Stone]

Yes, indeed, the spammers are out in force. Definitely file a complaint at the Internet Fraud Complaint Center -- it only takes about five minutes. Or let me know if you find a better option other than just blocking them. Thanks.