Charity scams: how to protect yourself against fraud after Hurricane Ian
Augusta, g.a. (WFXG) - THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY HURRICANE IAN HAS LED TO AN UNSUSPECTING THREAT: FRAUD. SCAMMERS LOVE TO TARGET WHEN WE’RE AT OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND DURING TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTERS, THEY OFTEN EMPLOY SCAMS THAT ARE EASY TO OVERLOOK.
RECENTLY, THE CULPRIT has been FICTITIOUS GO FUND ME ACCOUNTS, WHERE THERE IS NO GOVERNING BODY TO REGULATE LEGITIMACY. BUT, PRESIDENT AND cEO OF INTELLISYSTEMS, KEVIN WADE SAYS THERE ARE LESS OBVIOUS SCHEMES AS WELL. “ANY TYPE OF SOLICITATION WHERE THEY SAY IT’S URGENT, WHERE THEY ARE PRESSURING THE PERSON, WHO IS THE GIVER, THOSE SHOULD BE RED FLAGS TOO.”
wade says that a WELL-ESTABLISHED CHARITY is unlikely to REACH OUT TO YOU. he advises citizens TO BE WARY OF TEXTS OR CALLS FROM AGgRESSIVE SOLICITORS ASKING YOU TO PAY WITH CASH OR through ACH TRANSFER. INSTEAD, USE A CREDIT CARD OR CHECK TO GIVE to a charity of your choice.
ANOTHER METHOD OFTEN SEEN IS PHISHING EMAILS, ASKING FOR DONATIONS. bEFORE CLICKING ON A LINK TO A CHARITIES WEBSITE, wADE SUGGESTS FIRST MOVING YOUR MOUSE OVER THE WEBSITE HYPERLINK. HACKERS WILL SEND LINKS THAT LOOK LIKE LEGITIMATE WEBSITES.“LET’S SAY YOU HAVE REDCROSS.ORG.," WADE SAYS. "BUT INSTEAD OF REDCROSS.ORG SOMEONE PUT REDCR0SS.ORG.” "HOWEVER, BY TAKING THIS ADDITIONAL STEP, IT WILL REVEAL THE WINDOW IT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE YOU TO, WHICH CAN SAVE YOU MONEY AND TIME IN THE LONG RUN."
LASTLY, WADE SUGGESTS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WHO’S CALLING YOU AS VOICE PHISHING IS ALSO INCREASINGLY COMMON. “YOU LOOK ON THE CALLER ID AND IT MIGHT BE A LOCAL FLORIDA AREA CODE OR EVEN A LOCAL AUGUSTA AREA CODE AND IN REALITY THEY ARE JUST USING A PHONE NUMBER FROM HERE." "BUT, THEY MAY BE FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD. ”
THESE ARE JUST A FEW COMMON FRAUD TECHNIQUES. DOING YOUR RESEARCH BEFOREHAND CAN REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF BECOMING A VICTIM.
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