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Entry bubble Avoid Natural Disaster Charity Scams!

By: Jake | September 08, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

After a natural disaster, it's not uncommon to receive e-mails or phone calls soliciting donations for disaster relief. Unfortunately, these e-mails and phone calls could be scams that could leave you needing financial relief. Hurricane Photo

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team warns everyone to be wary of phishing scams during hurricane season. They warn that many scam e-mails link to legitimate-looking websites that ask for personal financial information. Once you submit your financial information you put yourself at risk for all kinds of problems, like identity theft.

U.S. CERT lists a number of ways you can avoid these phishing scams any time of year:

  • Do not follow unsolicited web links received in e-mail message
  • Verify the legitimacy of the e-mail by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. Trusted contact information can be found on the Better Business Bureau National Charity Report Index
  • If you encounter fraud, you can report it to the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or e-mail it to disaster-AT-leo-DOT-gov

If you want to donate money for natural disaster recovery efforts, you should check out USAFreedomCorps.gov, a federal web site with a list of approved non-profit organizations active in recovery efforts. If you have an itching to get involved, you can also find volunteer opportunities there.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: charity   contributions   fraud   jake   scams  

Comments (2):

blue comment bubble Posted by Jo on September 08, 2008 at 02:43 PM EDT

Even the so called legit charities are mostly scams too. Look at all of the money that was wasted and/or unaccounted for after Hurricane Katrina. It is best to volunteer your time or to give to individuals locally that you know need the help and don't have time to jump over all the hoops and scams to get what they really need. I have seen it SO many times I don't go in my pocket anymore.

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blue comment bubble Posted by The safe contributions on September 10, 2008 at 12:21 PM EDT

THERE ARE SAFE WELL KNOWN ORGANIZATIONS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO LIKE UNITED WAY, SALVATION ARMY, AND THE RED CROSS. I THINK IF YOU REALLY HAVE A HEART TO DONATE YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND A WAY TO. IT COULD BE YOU ONE DAY AND YOU WOULD WANT THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO ASSIST YOU. SO AFFORD THE OBVIOUS SCAMS AND CONTACT THE RELIABLE ORGANIZATION HELPING AMERICAN AND MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AFTER DISATERS....

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