When disasters hit, scammers are close behind. There
is always someone trying to cash in on the goodwill of Americans who want to
help. Here is some information to use after a disaster, such as Hurricane
Sandy:
- Charity Scams: Be cautious about online giving,
especially in response to unsolicited spam messages that claim to link to a
relief organization. If you want to give to a charity involved in relief
efforts, go directly to the charity's website.
- Social Media Scams: Facebook and Twitter
are rife with fake charities and fake storm victims asking for money, but also
be wary of news stories and disaster videos posted online. Some of these,
especially the ones that promise "shocking footage" or other sensationalized
content, often contain malware. If you click on a link to a video on
Twitter or Facebook, but are told you have to install additional software to
see it, stay away.
Be sure to check www.bbb.org
for the most recent scam information and read the BBB's business and charity
reviews that are posted on the BBB website.
