Pretoria — The South African Police Service has warned the public about a new 419 scam in the country in which conmen rip unsuspecting people off huge sums of money claiming the money would be used to support the victims of the Tsunami in Asia.

The police say the 419 cheats are now circulating bogus letters asking people to donate money, which they claim would be used to help the Tsunami victims in south east Asia where the tidal waves have left more than 150 000 people dead.

These unscrupulous individuals are posing as Tsunami victims and they send false letter appealing for donations from the targeted mail recipients. Police said the conmen want the money to be transferred electronically or through direct bank deposits.

"Please be aware that once the money has been sent, it will never reach the real victims of the disaster," the police have warned adding that there was an excess of about 15 letters circulated around the country by the 419. Police believe the cheats' first letter was issued on the very day the disaster hit Indonesia and fellow Asian countries.

Police also believe an estimated 4 million bogus letters soliciting financial aid for the Tsunami victims are also circulating via e-mail worldwide. People who receive the letters should not bother to respond, the police advised.

The SAPS also advised that people wishing to make donations to victims of the disaster should ensure their contributions are channeled through authentic and legal organisations involved in coordinating relief resources for affected countries.

In South Africa, a number of such organisations exist. They include the South African Red Cross and the South African Red Crescent, the Independent Newspapers SA and others. For more information people can also visit the SAPS 419 Task Team's website at http://www.419legal.org/