Don't Be Taken In By Disaster Scams - Lessons Learned

 CONSUMER ALERT

BILL SCHUETTE

ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern. Consumer Alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General.

Don't Be Taken In By Disaster Scams - Lessons Learned

OVERVIEW

Citizens in our country are very generous when a disaster hits a city, a state, a region of our country, or another country.  They see it as an opportunity to show how much they care for their fellow human beings and to do what they can to relieve suffering.  We've seen it for every earthquake, volcanic eruption, flood, and terrorist act.  Citizens come forth with money, clothes, medical supplies, and food. 

Unfortunately, scam artists see opportunities as well, and they come out of the woodwork with every disaster, promising to do good, while deviously plotting only to enrich themselves by stealing money meant for relief efforts or fraudulently obtaining consumers' sensitive financial information.

You can steer clear of disaster scams and still make a positive contribution to relief and rebuilding projects.  Here are some suggestions:

• Be especially skeptical of e-mail requests for donations by unfamiliar organizations, which may be nothing more than tricks by identity thieves to collect your personal information.  Do not open such e-mails - after the Tsunami in Indonesia, many viruses were spread by bogus charity messages.  Even if the e-mail messages appear to come from a familiar charity, in reality they may be total scams - contact charitable organizations independently to ensure that you know who you're dealing with.

 

• Before deciding to donate to an organization, contact the Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section to see if the organization is licensed.  There is also a list of licensed charities on the Attorney General's website.  (Be aware that some legitimate charities - including the American Red Cross and Salvation Army - do not appear on the list of charities simply because they are not required to obtain a license.)  Call the Charitable Trust Section if you have questions or want to check on the financial information for a licensed charity.

 

• Choose charities that have a good track record of helping in disasters.  The American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the Salvation Army are just three of a number of charities that either give immediate relief or help in rebuilding communities. The United Way of America has established a special fund for relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

   

• If you have relatives or friends who live in the area of the disaster, contact them to see which local charities have been visibly active in providing relief.

INFORMATION FOR DONORS

        United Way of America's Hurricane Katrina Response Fund:

100% of money contributed to this fund will be used for hurricane relief in the form of community rebuilding. United Way will not deduct any administrative expenses from donations.

Contributions by check may be sent to:

Hurricane Katrina Response Fund

United Way of America
P.O. Box 630568
Baltimore, MD 21263-0568

To donate online or for information, visit www.unitedway.org.  Michigan donors may also direct questions to the Michigan Association of United Ways at 517-371-4360.

        Salvation Army's Hurricane Relief Fund 2005:

Hurricane Relief Fund 2005

Salvation Army

P.O. Box 4857

Jackson, MS 39296-4857

To donate online or for information, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

        American Red Cross:

American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

To make a donation or for information, visit www.redcross.org or call

1-800-HELP-NOW.

The Attorney General's Web site has additional information and advice on charitable giving at www.michigan.gov/ag (click on "Charitable Giving").  Citizens may call the Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section at 517-373-1152 to check on a specific charity.  To check on a police or fire organization, call 1-800-769-4515, toll free.

Additional information on e-mail scams, identity theft, and other consumer alerts on a wide range of topics is also available at the Attorney General's Web site, www.michigan.gov/ag (click on "Consumer Alerts").  Mail or telephone inquiries and complaints may be directed to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at:

Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: 517-373-1140

Toll-free within Michigan: 1-877-765-8388
Fax: 517-241-3771
www.michigan.gov/ag (click on "File A Complaint")