Hurricane season is in full swing and Samantha wants to donate to help the cities that have been hit the hardest. Samantha planned on researching charities before donating, but when she saw a well-known news anchor post a link on social media to a charity collecting donations, she decided to donate through the link. She even reposted it to her own page so that others could easily donate, too.
A few hours later she saw another post by the news anchor. Her heart sank as she read his alert that the previous post asking for donations was a scam. A cybercriminal had hacked his account.
The link had seemed legitimate, but Samantha later realized it was a misspelled version of the real charity website. Frustrated and feeling naïve, Samantha did not donate again and did not alert her followers that the original post was a scam
Did you spot the red flags?
- Samantha abandoned her strategy of research for what was convenient. Cybercriminals often use links sent right to a users' inbox or social media feed in order to catch them with their guards down.
- After clicking on the link, Samantha did not check the website name for spelling errors or check if the details matched with those of the real charity.
- Samantha reposted the link and did not take it down or alert her followers that it was a scam.
What you should know about this scam
Charity scams often take advantage of disaster relief fundraising. Unsolicited messages or emails asking for donations after hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires should be treated with caution. Always research and look at reviews before donating.
For those affected directly by a storm, use references and research before hiring someone to repair the damage. Ask anyone you hire for a written contract and read it carefully. Do not to pay in full before the work is done, especially if the payment method is cash.
September often brings disasters such as hurricanes or other storms. Cybercriminals often take advantage of those who generously try to help. By researching, looking at charity ratings, and staying educated on the tactics used by scammers, it is still possible to give safely to trustworthy charities who truly do make a difference for those in need.