Over the past few weeks, the United States has been hit with two major hurricanes. The devastation from Hurricane Harvey has left Texas and Louisiana picking up the pieces while Hurricane Irma has left thousands without power and drinking water in four states. In times of need, we as Americans want to help.
Since good people like you want your donation to go to the right people, here are three things you need to consider so you are not scammed by evil people with bad intentions.
1) Don’t give to telemarketers - If someone calls asking for donations for hurricane relief, it’s better to hang up. Don’t respond to telemarketers asking for money. Older people fall victim to this type of scam most often. Make sure you talk with elderly family members about this type of scam. Help them choose where their donation should go.
2) Don’t respond to unsolicited emails - This week thousands of inboxes have been flooded with fake stories of need. Don’t click on any link that comes from an email address you don’t trust. There is a high probability that this is a phishing scam. Delete it immediately and without opening it if possible.
3) Be cautious of crowdfunding sites - There will be many sad stories popping up on crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe.com. The problem with these is that most of them can’t be confirmed and the site can’t weed out all of the bad ones. It’s better to donate to a trusted organization instead of a family directly. Here are some more ways to spot a crowdfunding scam.
Finally, be proactive in your charitable donations. Don’t wait for a scammer to call or email you. On your own, find a reputable relief fund like The American Red Cross.
That way you can know that your money is going right where you want it to go. Also be open to donating to disaster relief through your church. These are safe places you can trust.
For more information on scams, family protection and home security, consider The Secure Dad Newsletter.
