Give to Haiti But Be Aware of Scams

By: Salina Greene, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

In wake of the recent tragedy in the Caribbean, scams are on the rise involving donations to help the victims of Haiti. Increasing numbers of people are looking for a charitable organization or relief agency to donate their funds and time. Unfortunately, this is an opportune time for thieves to take advantage of innocent victims looking to help their fellow man. Be suspicious of individuals representing themselves as victims and asking for donations via e-mail and social networking sites.

Viruses may be present in e-mails claiming to show you pictures of the disaster areas in attached files. Be cautious when you enter your credit/debit card information through the internet. Make sure it is a secure line. Finding out exactly where donations will be going and what type of assistance the organization is providing can save you from becoming a victim of fraud. Fraudulent charities will likely emerge during this difficult time.

Whenever there is a natural disaster, home or abroad, two major things tend to happen. One, Americans are eager to donate their time, money, and resources. Two, a number of poorly-run or fraudulent charitable organizations spring up overnight. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking people not give any personal or financial information to anyone who asks for donations. This may make you vulnerable to identity theft or worse. On a lighter note, to ensure your donation is tax deductible, your donations should be made to a U.S. based charitable organization who has a 501(c)(3) status. This means the organization is a tax-exempt non-profit.

There are several reputable organizations and groups willing to accept donations that will go directly to the needs of the victims: UNICEF, The American Red Cross, Yele Haiti, and the Haiti Earthquake Relief Mission, just to name a few legitimate ones. Take the time to research and verify each organization, or person, asking for donations as I know a few people are looking for somewhere to give. Please remember to be safe about it.