It’s a sad truth that there are people who seek to use tragic events to their advantage. Cybercriminals may try to prey on people’s increased sense of urgency or compassion following a major event or natural disaster like Hurricane Helene. But just knowing a few safeguards can protect you from further harm during an already difficult time.
How to detect and defend against disaster scams
The key to avoiding these scams is to be suspicious of anyone who reaches out to you. The greater the sense of urgency, the more likely the request is an attack.
Here are some of the most common indicators of a charity scam:
- Be very suspicious of any charity that requires that you donate via cryptocurrency, Western Union, wiring money or gift cards.
- Cyber criminals can change their caller ID phone number to make their phone call look like it’s from your local area code or from a trusted name. Caller ID cannot be relied upon these days.
- Some cybercriminals will use names and logos that sound or look like a real charity. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving.
- Cybercriminals will often make lots of vague and sentimental claims about what they will do with your money but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.
- Some cybercriminals may try to trick you into donating to them by thanking you for a donation you made in the past when, in reality, you never donated to them.
- Do not assume pleas for help on crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe or social media sites such as TikTok are legitimate, especially in the wake of a crisis or tragedy.
- Do not give out personal or financial information in response to any unsolicited request.
How to make a difference safely
- To donate in times of need or to help those impacted by a disaster, donate only to well-known, trusted organizations.
- You initiate the connections and decide who to reach out to, such as what websites to visit or what organizations to call.
- When you consider giving to a charity, search its name plus words like “complaint,” “review,” “rating” or “scam.”
- Not sure which charities to trust? Start by researching on government websites you trust, or links provided by a well-known and trusted news organization. Donating in times of need is a fantastic way to make a difference; just be sure you are giving to legitimate organizations.
