Disaster Relief E-mail Scam Reported
Recent natural disasters in the United States have led to a new type of e-mail scam. The FBI has received reports of fraudulent e-mails requesting charitable donations, sometimes in the name of reputable organizations, to aid disaster relief efforts around the country.
Always be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting for donations via e-mail. If you wish to donate to a charitable organization, use your Web browser to visit the organization’s Web site and submit a donation.
Additionally, the FBI recommends adhering to the following rules regarding unsolicited (spam) e-mail:
- Do not respond to unsolicited e-mail.
- Do not click links in unsolicited e-mail.
- Only download images or open attachments from known senders.
- Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the non-profit status of the soliciting organization, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the soliciting organization.
- 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 believe you have received a fraudulent request for disaster relief donations, contact the ITS Help Desk.
To obtain more information on charitable contribution schemes and other types of online schemes, visit www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com. If you are a victim of an online scheme, please notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Average Rating (3 ratings): 
