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Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: building a digital defense against charity fraud.
With Hurricane Florence hitting the east coast last week… and the on-going disaster recovery efforts stretching from Hawaii to Puerto Rico… you need to be able to tell the legitimate charities from the frauds.
It is no secret that charity scams spike after significant events, particularly natural disasters. The news and your social media feeds are filled with photos of chaos and destruction. You feel helpless, and the fraudster knows it. These criminals will create fake social media accounts and websites to make it easy for you to give. Just click the link, and you will feel like you’ve made a difference. Unfortunately, if you pick the wrong organization, those most in need will never see your donation.
Along with the Federal Trade Commission, FEMA and other partner agencies, we offer these tips for safe giving:
Those affected by recent disasters can use your help – and there are plenty of legitimate charities out there to do that work. You just need to do your research before giving.
If you have been victimized by a charity fraud scam or any other online scam, be sure to file a report at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.