Last edited on: 14-Dec-09
The Earth have been always under constant changes. These changes sometimes leads to the several natural disasters — including earthquakes, floods, landslides, tornadoes, tsunamis, and wildfires — that have devastated lives and property. In the wake of these events, which cause emotional distress and great financial loss to numerous victims, individuals across the nation often feel a desire to help, frequently through monetary donations.
Tragic incidents such as 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
and the recent earthquake in China have prompted
individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a
charitable organization and/or a good cause.
Charities fraud happens when an individual or group
deliberately misrepresents its fundraising intentions or solicits charitable
funds for phony causes. Throughout the year, and especially during the holiday
season, you probably get appeals over the Internet, in the mail, or by telephone
urging you to contribute financially to a good cause. And when disasters hit —
whether natural or man-made — fraudulent websites pop up, supposedly collecting
funds for victims. There are plenty of fraud operators out there who are
scheming for your money--and the last thing on their mind is charity. Not only
do such come-ons bilk you of your money, but they also put money you intended
for the needy into the hands of con artists.
But just how do you know who is legit and who isn't? The Red
Cross Society, Rotary International and the Indian / American Cancer Society —
those are among the obviously worthy organizations. But what if you receive a
charitable solicitation from an organization you've never heard of?
Make sure that the organization you're giving to is a
legitimate charity, and not one that was set up for the sole purpose of bilking
the public. Therefore, before making a donation of any
kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
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Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
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Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations.
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Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
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Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
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To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
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Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site.
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Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the non-profit status of the organization by using various Internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the organization.
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Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
If you are a victim of an online
scheme,
please notify the IC3 by filing a complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/.