Katrina scammers

[Phlegm]

From The Washington Post:

Web sites claiming to collect donations for Hurricane Katrina victims. Phony e-mails pretending to solicit money from well-known charities. Online auctions of Internet domain names with Katrina-related addresses, such as "katrinaourtsunami.com."

Less than two days after the hurricane, Internet opportunists are already trying to cash in on public sympathy for Katrina's victims.

Within the past 24 hours, several Web sites have emerged, promising to forward money to relief workers. Bearing such names as Katrinahelp.com, katrinadonations.com and katrinarelief.com, the sites ask for money to be sent through Paypal, but there is no way to verify who is getting the money.

EBay late yesterday halted an online auction of several Katrina-related Web site names, such as "ourtsunami2005.com." Bidding was to start at $15,000, and the seller promised to deliver half of the final winning bid amount to the American Red Cross. EBay allows sellers to dedicate a portion of their profit to charities but requires the seller to either sign up for eBay's own giving program or obtain permission from the charity first. Red Cross officials said no permission had been granted, and eBay said it terminated the auction because the seller did not observe rules on charitable giving.


• More technology news

After last year's tsunami in South Asia, a survey by MasterCard International and security firm NameProtect Inc. found more than 170 tsunami-related scam sites being used to siphon donations to relief efforts. Using a technique known as "phishing," sites or e-mails pretend to represent a legitimate company, such as a credit card firm, to get consumers to post personal information such as a credit card number or bank account.

Yesterday, FBI spokesman Paul Bresson said the agency was investigating reports of fraudsters using e-mail and Web sites to impersonate legitimate fundraising and relief organizations.

"People who want to make a donation or contribute to a cause should actively seek out reputable organizations and then contact them by telephone or by typing their Web address into a Web browser," Bresson said. "The important point is that they initiate this contact on their own."

Federal Trade Commission spokeswoman Claudia Bourne-Farrell said people should never click on any link in an e-mail solicitation because they may end up at a site that looks real but is set up by identity thieves to get confidential information. "If you get an e-mail from the Red Cross, close the e-mail and go to the Red Cross Web site as you otherwise would," through a search engine, phone or regular mail, she said.

It's not just solicitations consumers should worry about. Security experts also caution computer users to remain vigilant against e-mails claiming to contain attached photos of the disaster because clicking on such files could launch viruses or worms.

Fraud watchers said Americans who want to make contributions should stick to Web sites of established national charities. The Web site for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473 ) also lists a number of Web sites where people can securely send donations to legitimate charities, as does http://www.give.org, part of the charity-monitoring service of the Better Business Bureau.

Art Taylor, president of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, said consumers shouldn't be in a hurry to contribute.
"Be careful about new charities that spring up overnight. They may have good intentions, but they don't have the means or experience to deliver aid. And there's no need to feel you need to do something immediate. What charities can possibly be on the ground right now providing services? We can barely get soldiers and other relief people into the area to help. You have time to be deliberative and think through how you want to help. Check out the organization first."

[DangerPaul]

so newsflash... people are scumbags ?

[Beelz]

I hear that there is another website scamming people so they can embezzle a couple million or so... possibly the Red Cross??... wouldn't be the first time this century

Other than them embezzling, I don't see how anyone being employed by the Red Cross should make anything over 50 to 70k. Which reminds me, I wonder if I can get access to their financial statements... hmm I'll be back unless I forget.

[Sorina S]

WTF how does anyone fall for this anymore???

All you need to know is http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

Send 5 dollars or 50,000...it all goes to the right place.

SS~

[Zanchief]

it all goes to the right place.

If you want to support terrorism.

[Tacks]

it all goes to the right place.

SS~

Right into the pockets of people who don't need it!

[Sorina S]

Prove it boyz, I've been a Red Cross volunteen for 24 years. I was at the Styvosant school on sept 13, I just came back from Mississippi, took us 2 days to get the ok but we were able to drive our truckload of water and supplies down.

You fuckin show me where the Red Cross is a crooked organzsasion? Yes I know a former director was caught with his hand in the cookie jar a ways back. He was dealt with.

You know I smell a couple people who don't know how the real world works. But Zan you better have more than heresay to support your claim that the Red Cross, either American or International 'supports' terrorism...show me your proof fucker. Don't talk out your ass unless your ass has been downtown...

SS

[DangerPaul]

I heard the Redcross Board of Directors imports 10 year old male boys for the men on the board.

[Sorina S]

Well Paul you know I heard what you did on the euph trip to NO and it wasn't much better. But the I don't put much faith in heresay ^,~

[DangerPaul]

I had 10 year old girls, sorry ><

[Tacks]

I'm sorry that you're stupid enough to believe it Sorina.

[kaharthemad]

There are two different companies..International Red Cross and the American Red Cross. about as different as apples and Oranges. I wholeheartedly support the ARC and have donated time and money to them in the past and will continue to do so. The IRC on the otherhand much like the United Wafer and UNIClit is about usless


Matter of fact the ARC has almost 2.5 gallons of my blood. So if your O pos and you need blood you might have a little Kahar Madness going thru your blood. Creepy thought aint it

[Sorina S]

And I'm sorry your ignorant enough not belive that the organisation does more in the way of relief effort than any other on the face of the planet. Remain suspicious and ignorant if you wish, I prefer to serve the greater good.

Paul I saw the pictures...!

AB- they love me at blood drives ><

[kaharthemad]

Are you referring to me being ignorant? Or someone else? sorry it is not clear.

[Sorina S]

Someone else

[kaharthemad]

thought so. wanna make sure before I opened fired.

[Sorina S]

heh, I was a skeerred too...nah bro anybody that gives blood is a hero in my book.

[araby]

My donation was legit and went directly to the place it was supposed to go, they interviewed the guy who did this...and the local honda dealership here sponsored them and they're keeping track of the guy's trip. the red cross didn't want what I had to give.

the point is though, I really hate it that so many people will lose money right now. when Hugo came through, people ran off with money after agreeing to do repair work, donations weren't legit, they would come home and find no work done, and all of their belongings (what was left) gone. It's sad, this has a lot of people in my town talking about how much money they lost in '89.

hopefully people giving are making sure they give it to the right people. and people in need of help make sure they get the right help.

[Yamori]

Red Cross is a global timeshare pyramid scheme perpetrated by the dark lord.

[Zanchief]

You know I smell a couple people who don't know how the real world works. But Zan you better have more than heresay to support your claim that the Red Cross, either American or International 'supports' terrorism...show me your proof fucker. Don't talk out your ass unless your ass has been downtown...

I was trying to beat Martrae to the punch. Personally I dont give a shit, but she got all bent out of shape when the IRC tried to smuggle a few arabs past a checkpoint.

It was sarcastic.

[Martrae]

Uh...they didn't try...they did it. But regardless, you didn't beat me to any 'punch'. I had no interest in this thread until you mentioned my name.

[Zanchief]

Martrae
Martrae
Martrae

[Martrae]

[Darcler]

I'm O+. Bring on the Kahar-goodness!

[kaharthemad]

Oh yeah baby!!! a few pints of blood in you and you will have a sex drive the a mink breeder would not tolerate.