WASHINGTON, Aug 4: Scam artists posing as fund-raisers for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry are trying to trick Internet users into sending them money, an Internet security firm said on Tuesday.

The Kerry campaign said it had asked the Justice Department to investigate. Two separate mass e-mail "spam" campaigns were uncovered that ask users to contribute to Mr Kerry's presidential bid, but direct the money to websites in India and Texas that are not affiliated with the campaign, said the security firm Surf Control.

Such "phishing" scams will likely become more commonplace as the presidential campaign heats up, Surf Control vice president said. -Reuters