-Natural Disasters Victims: Scammers Wait until we are in our Lowest
Opportunists prey on natural disasters’
victims and even those who want to help. They would not miss any single
chance that they could profit something from any kind of people by taking
advantage of their weaknesses. Victims are at their most desperate state and
scammers see this as an opportunity to deceive them.
“After practically every disaster, in the United States or
abroad, charity scams pop up,” says John Breyault, vice president of the
National Consumers League. “We saw charity scams pop up after Hurricane
Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti and the Indonesian tsunami, to name just a
few.”
These frauds come in various shapes and sizes as well as the
scammers. They would take advantage the helplessness of the victims, they will
show up and their front door, offer help and after they collected the payment
in advance they would not show-up afterwards or worse make a bigger damage on
the victim’s properties.
Beware of email scams; through email fraud they can easily
target victims during in time of need. Although natural disaster’s victims are
not their target rather potential donors after the disaster are being preyed.
Following a number of cases against email frauds after a
disaster, the U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center forDisaster Fraud. Email and social medias are often also being used, urging you
to click on a photo and then would ask for many things after that will lead you
to send out money. The department insisted not to click on links instead
independently seek information about charities you are interested in helping.
Better yet, go directly to well known charities or charities that you already
know.
Request of money donations are automatically considered as
illegitimate, no record will be provided if the said organization did received
the money and on your part you will not have a record for tax purposes. It is
not advisable to make donations.
It will be hard to be rational during a time of calamity but
take time to think about things because more often than not being impulsive
will worsen things. Number one rule that you must remember is never send out or
give money until the work is done or the product is at hand. Government is sure
to help you, better wait for their action before making decisions on your own.
If you would like to help out, go to reputable charities and
send out help yourselves. Help also comes in different shapes and sizes, as
much as possible avoid sending out money to help.
You must keep in mind that although there are good people
out there, scammers are also not far. It is a matter of being rational and
intelligent more especially in worse times. Double check everything first, it
is better sure than sorry.
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