On eBay, sellers are hawking Pez dispensers, a gold necklace, a stuffed mouse, and a “hand-carved” Buddha statue with the promise that proceeds from the auctions will go directly to charities assisting the victims of the tsunami in Asia.

Visitors to tsunamireliefaid.com are directed to a crudely constructed Web site with photographs of those who appear to be tsunami victims and instructions urging users to send relief packages and $10 checks to a P.O. box in Germantown, Md.

As major aid agencies around the globe undertake what could be the costliest and most complex relief effort ever, the catastrophe in South Asia has also given rise to hundreds of newly born charities purporting to raise money for victims.

While the federal government has made attempts to crack down on charity fraud since September 11, 2001 – the Patriot Act increased the penalty of impersonating a Red Cross member to five years from one – and Internet users have become more savvy, phony charities are trying harder than ever to swindle donors on the Internet.

Many of these charities are anonymous and don’t have the imprimatur of philanthropic associations. It’s unclear if the fund-raisers mentioned above are legitimate. But according to those familiar with online fraud, people looking to donate to the tsunami victims ought to be extra wary of unfamiliar Internet sites and individuals collecting money or goods.

“It doesn’t surprise me that folks are taking advantage of this tragedy,” said the director of the National Fraud Information Center in Washington, D.C., Susan Grant. “You always see these kinds of things after disasters.”

Tsunamireliefaid.com is one of a number of sites with the word “tsunami” in their domain names that have popped up on the Internet since Sunday’s disaster. Another istsunamirelief.com, which directs users to a Red Cross donation site on Amazon.com.

On eBay, an auction for the domain name tsunamireliefeffort.com is currently soliciting bids with a starting bid at $100.

“The press is already calling this event the worst natural disaster this century. Unfortunately, the Tsunami relief effort is sure to go on for quite some time,” states the seller. “Use this domain to raise money, post information, raise awareness, or create your own personal homage. Sure to attract world attention.”

The seller auctioning off a “dispelling fear” Buddha statue, whose proceeds are said to go to Unicef, has set the minimum bid at $299.

The president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, Daniel Borochoff, said eBay users should not expect that their money will ever make it to charities.

“What assurance do you really have that it’s going to happen?” he asked.

Tsuanmireliefaid.com does not contain any names or contact phone numbers. The site provides an e-mail address, tsunamireliefaid@comcast.net, where users can submit questions.

The site asks visitors to assemble their own “relief aid kit,” containing such items as soap, a towel, and a toothbrush, and send the package to the listed P.O. box, along with a check for $10. The site says the money is for “shipping and handling.”

“If you are not able to go out and pick up the items needed, then you may send along a check for $20 made payable to the Tsunami Relief Aid so that way we can assemble the Relief Aid kit for you,” the site says.

For another $5, the site will throw in a teddy bear.

The chief operating officer of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance in Arlington, Va., Bennett Weiner, said people looking to donate money to victims should be wary of newly created organizations that are “suddenly” raising money for tsunami relief efforts.

“Although well-intentioned, such organizations may not have the ability to quickly deliver aid to those in need,” he said.

Mr. Weiner also said donors should watch out for Internet sites that are “long on emotion but short on what the organization is going to do about the problem.”

New Yorkers can verify whether a charity is registered in the state by contacting the charities bureau of the office of the New York State attorney general (212-416-8400).

Donors can also visit charitywatch.org, the Web site of the American Institute of Philanthropy, for a list of recommended charities that are conducting tsunami relief efforts.