People are rushing to help out the millions affected by this week's Haitian earthquake. Scammers are also rushing to take advantage of that generosity. <BR><BR><a href='http://meincmagazine.com/security/news/2010/01/fbi-warns-of-haiti-donation-scams-advises-legit-ways-to-help.ars'>Read the whole story</a>
Online scammers try to hijack Haiti donation bandwagon
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Who did not see this coming like a freight train? Really now, it happens with every disaster. So once again I will do a shameless plug for one of what I consider to be the best charity groups out there. No, I am not a part of them nor am I affiliated with them. I just give money to them.<BR><BR>http://www.mercycorps.org/<BR><BR>I am pretty sure that they will be in Haiti.
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I think this bit needs re-wording:<BR><BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The takeaway from both the BBB and the FBI is to only donate to charities that you know and trust </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Although I'm guessing most people here will understand and parse correctly the intended meaning, it doesn't give any meaningful advice to those duped by the example given in the article of the fake Red Cross email. The Red Cross <I>is</I>, for this purpose, a charity people know and trust. Perhaps say something more along the lines of "give your money in a way you know it will arrive at the intended charity of your choice".
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That is why you should find a charity/charities - stick with it and ignore the rest. There are too many scum buckets out there unfortunately.
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Charity navigator has a listing of reputable orgs with information such as how much of the money goes towards overhead and things like that. Below is the direct link to their haiti section.<BR>http://www.charitynavigator.or...ntent.view&cpid=1004
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I heard the 90999 texting is only available in the US. Also, sending funds through texting introduces wait times for the money to actually go through. For better results, go to charity websites directly and use their donation links and your credit card.
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Main point is that you need to avoid giving to third parties claiming to be collecting for a certain charity, and to ensure that you're giving directly to a trusted charity. This is the same sorts of precautions you should be using to avoid phishing attacks and other scams.<BR><BR>I'm still amazed by how many people continue to get duped by this stuff. You'd think the Internet was invented yesterday...
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BaggerX:<BR>I'm still amazed by how many people continue to get duped by this stuff. You'd think the Internet was invented yesterday... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Um for the majority of people it was (it has only been actually accessable to the public at large since what... around '96 and it was far more limited than now)... None of my family knows that a link in an email can actually be faked to say one thing but redirect you somewhere else when you click on it. And if you click on it and see something that looks identical to the Red Cross site then you think you are giving to the Red Cross. For you, me, and the other Ars readers, yeah we know to check everything because we all understand how all the whirly-gigs that make the internet run works, and deal with it on a daily basis (though I still wonder how they get the signal strength for it they do from the top of Big Ben). The vast majority though don't have that kind of specialized knowledge and normally have no need for it as they only get on their computers a few times a day to check their email and go to news sites, pay bills, or play casual games.<BR><BR>So don't be too hard on them as I'm pretty sure if your mother, or father got the email they'd be almost as likely, if not as likely to be taken in.
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Yeah, maybe it's high time I sat down with my parents and gave them "the talk" about the real internet. It's not just a series of tubes after all...
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ChogWolf:<BR>It's stuff like this that makes me ashamed to be human.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Don't be. Just give to good organizations and inform everyone you know who is obviously ignorant of such problems that they do in fact exist. Scum dogs of the Earth always will and always have stolen from the public. It is nothing new. The vector by which they do it is the only new factor.
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I really can't think of anything lower than stealing money intended for disaster victims. People like this should just be set on fire.
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DMala:<BR>I really can't think of anything lower than stealing money intended for disaster victims. People like this should just be set on fire. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Hey now, it's not like they didn't ask for it. <BR>http://www.nbcsandiego.com/new...ertson-81504072.html
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On a slightly more positive note, a question: the Red Cross donation page linked on the article only has CC donations, do you guys know if there is any way to use PayPal instead?
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ChogWolf:<BR>It's stuff like this that makes me ashamed to be human.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Look at it this way, the only reason this can be done is because of the goodwill of so many. It's only a small handful of people low enough to pull this kind of scam, but it's only as a result of so many people wanting to donate to a good cause in one hit.<BR><BR>Gotta take the good with the bad
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mltdwn:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BaggerX:<BR>I'm still amazed by how many people continue to get duped by this stuff. You'd think the Internet was invented yesterday... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Um for the majority of people it was (it has only been actually accessable to the public at large since what... around '96 and it was far more limited than now)... None of my family knows that a link in an email can actually be faked to say one thing but redirect you somewhere else when you click on it. And if you click on it and see something that looks identical to the Red Cross site then you think you are giving to the Red Cross. For you, me, and the other Ars readers, yeah we know to check everything because we all understand how all the whirly-gigs that make the internet run works, and deal with it on a daily basis (though I still wonder how they get the signal strength for it they do from the top of Big Ben). The vast majority though don't have that kind of specialized knowledge and normally have no need for it as they only get on their computers a few times a day to check their email and go to news sites, pay bills, or play casual games.<BR><BR>So don't be too hard on them as I'm pretty sure if your mother, or father got the email they'd be almost as likely, if not as likely to be taken in. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I understand that, but we've been hearing about things like phishing scams, 419 scams, even charity scams like these for years now. It's been in all the news outlets countless times. None of this is new. You don't even need to know how any of the attacks work. You just have to know basic safe behavior. Don't click links in email. Go to sites via bookmarks or search engines instead. Don't give money to third parties that claim to be collecting for a charity. Don't give out personal info, financial info, logins/passwords, etc to ANYONE over the internet. Don't believe what you read in an email without verifying it yourself (oh how I wish people would do this before passing on all the ridiculous emails I get).
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BaggerX:<BR>I understand that, but we've been hearing about things like phishing scams, 419 scams, even charity scams like these for years now. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Which makes one wonder - if there were a devastating natural disaster in Nigeria, how might <I>they</I> solicit relief donations?
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by dlux:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BaggerX:<BR>I understand that, but we've been hearing about things like phishing scams, 419 scams, even charity scams like these for years now. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Which makes one wonder - if there were a devastating natural disaster in Nigeria, how might <I>they</I> solicit relief donations? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Good question. Hopefully not by Western Union wire transfers. If I was a Nigerian I'd want to beat these scammers senseless for all the ill will they cause. Of course I may not actually care much as I've got too many bigger problems to worry about.
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BaggerX:<BR>If I was a Nigerian I'd want to beat these scammers senseless for all the ill will they cause. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I don't think you need to be Nigerian to share that sentiment.
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ChogWolf:<BR>It's stuff like this that makes me ashamed to be human.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Not me, but if there were any aliens looking in? It would make us look pretty bad.
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I still can't believe with all the fraud going on, what do our financial institutions do?<BR><BR><BR>THEY MAKE IT EVEN EASIER!<BR><BR>Credit card swipes with no signature. Credit card swipes that work by proximity and require no signature. <BR><BR><BR>The entire idea that you can be charged $10 for sending a text message is fucking ridiculous, even if it's voluntary.
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How is this a bad thing?<BR><BR>If you're dumb enough to give your money away better it goes to someone entreprenuering to set up this kind of scheme than it gets wasted on bailing out yet another failed government.<BR><BR>Sure you can blame "poverty" but why is Haiti so poor when Israel is rich?
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by IntelPatriot:<BR>How is this a bad thing?<BR><BR>If you're dumb enough to give your money away better it goes to someone entreprenuering to set up this kind of scheme than it gets wasted on bailing out yet another failed government.<BR><BR>Sure you can blame "poverty" but why is Haiti so poor when Israel is rich? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I'm sure that well over $100 billion in direct aid from the U.S. over the past 60 years didn't hurt Israel.
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