There’s nobody out there more ready for economic stimulus than cyber criminals and con artists.

Their shovel-ready projects: Scam consumers with fraudulent e-mail missives offering stimulus money in exchange for direct-deposit information.

These scams have already begun, with thieves touting stimulus money available for a small cash amount and either credit card or checking account information.

Scammers then use the information to drain victims’ bank accounts and run up charges on their credit cards.

“Web sites may advertise that they can help you get money from the stimulus fund,” Eileen Harrington, the acting director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the commission, told the New York Times. “Many use deceptive names or images of President Obama  and Vice President Biden to suggest they are legitimate. They’re not. Don’t fall for it.”

You may want to give users in your organization a heads up about these e-mails and Web sites.

Tags: checking account, credit card, cybercriminals, economic stimulus, scam, theft