Scam Targets Families of KIAs

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security are warning the public about an Iraq-related Internet scam directed at the relatives of fallen U.S. service members. The scheme involves e-mail sent to relatives of service members killed in Iraq. Claiming to be a volunteer working with U.S. forces, the sender states that a late friend, who also was a service member killed in Iraq, was a very good friend of the relative’s slain son or daughter. The sender then asks for assistance in obtaining funds kept for them by the deceased friend, promising more details when the relative responds to the e-mail. To enhance credibility, the sender adds a link to the portion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Web site that discusses operations in Iraq. Recipients should ignore and delete such messages, said Michael J. Garcia, DHS assistant for immigration and customs enforcement.