PERSONAL FINANCE

Little surprise that some scam artists are taking advantage of swine flu fears.

Spammers reportedly began pumping out swine flu-related e-mails immediately on the news of the outbreak.

Some of these e-mails link people to pharmacies and could rip off consumers.

F-Secure Corp., an online security company, noted that more than 250 Web sites with the term “swine flu” have been registered thus far.

The Better Business Bureau said one Web site is selling a Swine Flu Survival Guide PDF for $19.95.

The BBB recommends that consumers avoid opening e-mail from an unknown source and do not click on any links or open any attachments.

Instead, delete the e-mail or report it to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding the e-mail to spamuce.gov.

For official updates on the swine flu, go to www.cdc.gov/ swineflu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes on its Web site that vaccines are available for pigs. However, according to the center, there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu.

The site said the seasonal flu vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.

Keep your wallet healthy: Don’t get scammed by goofy e-mails on the swine flu and don’t waste money on any false promises.

Save on appliances : Major household appliances such as the refrigerator, clothes dryer and dishwasher can put a strain on the monthly utility bills. Using appliances designed with energy conservation in mind, however, can save money over the long run.

A variety of Web sites offer good information about purchasing and using energy-saving appliances:

•American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: aceee.org/ consumerguide/ index.htm

•Natural Resources Defense Council: www.nrdc.org/air/ energy/fappl.asp

•U.S. Department of Energy: www.energystar.gov

From wire reports