SHAMELESS SCAMMERS

SHAMELESS SCAMMERS seek to cash in on Christchurch massacre......

Scammers are trying to cash in on the  Christchurch Mosque Massacres, using  phishing emails with links to  fake bank accounts  to ensnare people keen to donate, New Zealand's  cyber security body said Monday.

The attack on two mosques in which 50 worshippers were killed, allegedly by a white supremacist, has caused an outpouring of grief and prompted a flood of donations - well over NZ$7 million [US$5 million]  to those affected.

But CERT NZ, a government agency that responds to  cyber security incidents, said emails with links to face fake banking logins or fraudulent accounts were being sent out requesting money following the tragedy.

Westpac New Zealand bank warned separately in a statement that scammers were sending emails under the brand to swindle money out of people.

The warning was noted on Facebook, where the scam drew a furious reaction from users.

''Disgusting these low lives are trying to scam money out of people when they're most vulnerable,'' wrote one.

''What a shameless act,'' wrote another.

Some  NZ $ 5.8 million has been donated via online fundraising platform givealittle, and a second -launchgood - has received more than NZ$2 million.

Forty pages have so far been set up on  givealittle  to bring in donations to help those affected by the mass shooting, Robert Lentell, of the Spark Foundation that runs the platform was quoted as saying by the  New Zealand Herald Newspaper.

New donation pages  are  ''popping up every hour,'' she said, adding each was ''extensively'' checked and had warning signs posted if they had not yet been moderated. [Agencies]