Internet scammers attack McCaskill's mom

Sen. Claire McCaskill's mother was the victim of an Internet marketing scam, and according to Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), the Missouri Democrat is "absolutely in a rage about it."

Rockefeller's comments were made during a lively hearing of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Tuesday on the topic of a particular type of Internet scam, where consumers are unknowingly enrolled in "discount clubs" during the course of legitimate online purchases.

Committee members may be in danger of the scams as well. Rockefeller described using Amazon.com to buy books, a correction after he initially said he bought his books at "aol.com."

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) may have a little more to worry about. Perusing a list of offending websites, Dorgan observed that "I guess I've been to all these Web sites -- Fandango to buy movie tickets -- I've certainly done that -- Pizza Hut, Continental Airlines."

Details about the swindle of McCaskill's mom were unavailable at press time.