EDITORIAL GOOD WILL EXPLOITED.

DECENT people can only hope there's an especially unpleasant place in the afterlife reserved for people who prey upon the most vulnerable members of society, such as children, senior citizens and disaster survivors.

If there is such a place, the three people whom police arrested for falsely collecting donations at a faux Red Cross table outside a Burbank Best Buy store last week would appear to be destined for it.

If police turn out to be correct in their assessment, the trio - including a 14-year-old girl - set up a booth with signs saying they were collecting money to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Police say they could have bilked well-meaning shoppers out of as much as $2,000.

San Fernando Valley residents are known for their willingness to help others out. How sad that anyone would exploit that. This tale also should serve as a warning: Check out the people taking donations before writing the check.

Here's the real information to donate to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief:

To make a secure online donation, go to the Web site (www.redcross.org). Make a donation by phone by calling (800) HELP-NOW. Or mail a donation directly to the American Red Cross Disaster Response Fund at P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.