The FBI is seeing a proliferation of web sites soliciting for charitable donations to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In early September, the bureau warned that anyone wishing to contribute to recovery efforts online should attempt to verify the legitimacy of non-profit organizations, as well as their non-profit status. To ensure that contributions to non-profit organizations are used for intended purposes, the FBI suggests going directly to recognized charities and aid organizations' web sites, as opposed to following links from other sites.
Several variations of the scam currently are in circulation, according to the bureau. By mid-September, approximately 2,300 Katrina-related sites could be found on the Internet. Many purported to be connected with the Red Cross.
Computer users also should beware of e-mail claiming to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only attachments from known senders should be opened, the FBI reiterated.
The Justice Department has established a Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force to address phony charity solicitations and other schemes, such as identity theft, insurance fraud, and government benefit fraud.
“We cannot allow the kindness of Americans to be exploited in this time of disaster and crisis,” said U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. “This task force will help ensure that those offering a helping hand do not themselves become the victims of fraud, and that the money and support they so graciously and generously offer goes to the intended recipients, the many victims of Hurricane Katrina.”
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