Adding to the worry over a swine flu outbreak, spammers have flooded the Internet with millions of e-mails that peddle counterfeit drugs and remedies, in the hope of stealing credit card data, according to a security firm.

McAfee Inc, the world’s second-largest security software maker says many of the e-mails direct recipients to websites for fake online pharmacies promising treatments for the virus.

However, one is not getting what one thinks one is buying, as in most cases, the websites are simply using the ploy to steal credit card data or deliver counterfeit drugs.

McAfee estimates the swine flu spam beginning over the weekend, accounted for 3 to 4% of all of Monday’s e-mail spam.  A couple of the subject lines drawing people in are: ‘Madonna caught swine flu!’ and ‘Salma Hayek caught swine flu!’

After the virus killed 103-people in Mexico, spreading to the USA and Canada, including reaching Europe, governments around the world are rushing to reduce the impact of a possible flu pandemic.