Use common sense when making donations to Japan and other causes

March 28, 2011 – 10:39 am

Consumers are urged to use caution when making donations in the aftermath of natural disasters. Unfortunately, criminals use these situations to their advantage by sending fraudulent e-mails and creating phony Web sites designed to solicit donations.

The FBI has a tip line consumers can call to provide information about suspected fraud associated with the earthquake and tsunami that affected Japan. Tips should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721. The line is open and staffed 24/7.

Consumers should also use due diligence before giving to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to provide assistance to the people of Japan. Solicitations can come in e-mails, Web sites, door to door collections, flyers, mailings and telephone calls.

Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should remember these guidelines:

• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as members of charitable organizations or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites. 

• Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities. 

• Rather than follow a purported link to a Web site, verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence and its nonprofit status. 

• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. 

• To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. 

• Do not be pressured into making contributions; reputable charities do not use such tactics. 

• Be aware of whom you are dealing with when providing your personal and financial information. Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft. 

• Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. 

• Legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services. Most legitimate charities Web sites end in .org rather than .com.

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