The following is a transcript of a report by Aaron Saykin that first aired May 30, 2007, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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It's not uncommon for thieves to target members of the military or to appeal to our sense of patriotism to steal money, but for many families, a new scam might hit too close to home.

For those with loved ones fighting in Iraq, the images of war are everywhere and the sense of anxiety endless.

It's a situation some thieves are now trying to exploit.

"They get their people at their weakest moment," said Ron Conley of Allegheny County Veterans Services. "And that's how they make the dollar."

Scam artists are now calling military spouses, posing as representatives of the American Red Cross, telling them their significant other has been badly hurt in Iraq and evacuated to Germany.

The Red Cross warns that the thieves then ask the spouses to confirm some information for the paperwork, including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, all for the purpose of identity theft.

"I'm a military dad myself, and it just really bothers me that people take advantage of military families like that," said Rob Skertich of the Red Cross.

Thieves have posed as Red Cross employees before during natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, hoping to collect money.

But in this case, something's not quite right.

During wartime, the Red Cross only delivers urgent messages to troops in the field, usually involving sick relatives.

"The whole scam is backwards," said Skertich. "The American Red Cross typically is not going to contact military families. The military families contact us."

"It's a shame," said Conley. "It's a shame in our society that this goes on."

For more information, visit www.RedCross.org or call 412-263-3100.

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