Well-meaning folks across the world continue to come to the rescue of earthquake-ravaged Haiti by donating money, 
food, and medical supplies, and by all accounts, the relief efforts cannot arrive quickly enough. People across the world are reaching into their wallets and pulling out their checkbooks and credit cards to offer what monetary help they can. If this sounds like you or someone you know, be wary—phony charities and scammers looking to make some quick money are already running rampant, taking advantage of donors’ generosity and hard-earned money.
This isn’t the first time scammers have used a natural disaster to turn a profit, and unfortunately, it’s not likely to be the last. Scammers and con artists count on people’s kindheartedness following a massive tragedy like the Haiti quake, so don’t automatically believe that every relief organization that is claiming to “help Haiti now” really intends to do so.
Read these tips and advice on how to donate to relief organizations when natural disasters strike:
Donate to large, well-known organizations. International groups like the Red Cross, Amnesty International, The Salvation Army, AmeriCares, Doctors Without Borders, and a host of similarly-minded organizations are safe bets when it comes to deciding where to donate. The American Institute of Philanthropy includes a long list of charities that are currently accepting donations for Haiti relief.
Don’t give any personal information over the phone. Expect at least a few unsolicited phone calls from “representatives” claiming to be raising money for various “charities”. If they are calling from an organization you’re not familiar with, don’t feel obligated to divulge any personal details, especially your credit card number or other confidential information.
Ignore suspicious emails. Although this is good advice in general, don’t be duped by emails claiming to be from charitable organizations. They may contain viruses or other destructive attachments that might access your credit card number or other information you may not want to share.
Be wary of donating online. Just as scammers are sending out phony emails asking for donations, there are hundreds of websites popping up saying the same thing. Again, if the organization seems a bit dodgy, or you’ve never heard of them, do a quick background check before hitting the “Donate” button. See if they are registered with the Better Business Bureau or if their name appears on Google “scam” searches.
Related Posts:
- Card Issuers Step Up for Haitian Relief Efforts - On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti. The quake devastated the country that is the...
- Five Good Things You Can Do With Your Credit Card - We hear a lot of talk about how the use of credit cards is a bad thing. And certainly there is that...
- Relief for Merchants and Taxpayers on 1099-K Reporting - Many small business owners and payment service providers were in a panic over the government’s new 1099-K reporting forms going into effect...
- Mobile Payments Could Transform Fundraising - Mobile credit card processing has been a popular tool for merchants who are on the go, but it may prove just as...
{ 1 trackback }