In the Know: Internet scammers attack McCaskill’s mom; Dorgan uses Pizza Hut online

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 on Tuesday on the topic of a particular type of Internet scam wherein consumers are unknowingly enrolled in “discount clubs” during the course of legitimate online purchases.

Confused by a pop-up window at the end of an online purchase, Betty Ann McCaskill entered additional information and was automatically signed up for a pay service.

The “monthly fee” was quickly discovered on her credit card statement, and the “membership” was immediately canceled, but Sen. McCaskill, who lives with her mother in St. Louis, was incensed.

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 websites — Fandango to buy movie tickets — I’ve certainly done that — Pizza Hut, Continental Airlines.”