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  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 12, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: charity scam, , , , ,   

    Charity scammers wasted no time after TN tornadoes 

    By Greg Collier

    Over this past weekend, a series of tornadoes touched down in Tennessee that destroyed hundreds of homes and tragically took lives. According to the Better Business Bureau, reports have already come in saying scammers are posing as charities to try to make a quick buck. This is nothing new, as scammers can almost always be found trying to take advantage of a natural disaster, regardless of the heartbreak it brings.

    The most prevalent scam that emerges in the aftermath of a natural disaster involves individuals offering cleanup or repair services at discounted rates. Fraudsters typically request full upfront payment, and instead of delivering on their promises, they often perform minimal work or none at all. It’s crucial to verify the legitimacy of contractors by asking for their licenses and proof of insurance before engaging in any transactions.

    Another scam related to disasters occurs when fraudsters claim to assist in qualifying for FEMA relief assistance. Notably, FEMA does not impose any application fees. If someone purporting to be from FEMA demands money, it is highly likely to be a fraudulent scheme.

    Similar caution should be exercised with scammers posing as representatives of your insurance company. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your insurance provider, refrain from disclosing personal information. Instead, hang up and independently contact your local agent or the customer service number specified on your policy.

    Even for those residing outside disaster-stricken areas, vigilance against scams is paramount. While charitable intentions are commendable, exercise caution when donating to unfamiliar organizations purporting to support disaster relief. Legitimate charities never solicit donations through gift cards, money orders, or wire transfers. Additionally, be wary of scammers employing high-pressure tactics to coerce swift donations.

    The Better Business Bureau is also warning that charity scammers may be using names similar to real charities. The BBB gives the example of scammers using a name like Red Cross of the United States instead of the American Red Cross.

    To guarantee that your charitable donation has a meaningful impact, it’s essential to take specific steps to confirm the legitimacy of the intended charity. Resources such as Charity Navigator and Give.org offer a reliable platform to verify the authenticity of various charitable organizations. Furthermore, confirming the charity’s registration with the IRS serves as a trustworthy indicator of its legitimacy. These precautionary measures ensure that your contribution goes towards reputable organizations dedicated to making a positive difference.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 15, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: charity scam, , , , ,   

    Maui wildfires bring out the scammers 

    Maui wildfires bring out the scammers

    By Greg Collier

    In case you haven’t been following the news, the island of Maui in Hawaii has been experiencing the worst wildfires in over a century. And whenever there is a natural disaster of this scale, the scammers are sure to follow. In that vein, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is trying to get ahead of the scammers and has issued a warning not only to the residents of Maui, but also those looking to help the victims of the fires.

    The first type of scam the FTC is warning residents about is the FEMA impersonation scam. After natural disasters, scammers will often impersonate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to try to get personal information or money from victims of the disaster.

    Fraudsters masquerade as FEMA representatives and contact individuals, offering aid related to disaster relief or financial support.

    These impostors deploy a variety of tactics to target potential victims, utilizing means like phone calls, emails, text messages, or social media posts. They might assert that the person has been granted financial aid, or insist on the need for personal particulars to facilitate aid distribution.

    After winning the victim’s confidence, the scammers proceed to request sensitive personal and financial data, including Social Security numbers, bank account specifics, or credit card particulars. Additionally, they might solicit funds or persuade the victim to acquire gift cards under the guise of receiving assistance.

    In actuality, authentic FEMA representatives never solicit personal or financial details through phone calls or emails, nor do they ask for monetary contributions or gift cards as prerequisites for disaster relief. Should you receive a suspicious communication purporting to be from FEMA, it’s advisable to directly contact the agency to authenticate the legitimacy of the message.

    Then there are the charity scams, which almost always appear following a disaster like this. Individuals seeking to contribute to a relief fund should exercise caution when encountering phone or email solicitations from entities with generic names such as ‘Disaster Relief Fund’. If a charitable organization seems to be exerting undue pressure on you to donate, whether via phone conversations or online platforms, there’s a strong likelihood that they are operating as scammers.

    You have the option to verify a charity’s authenticity by visiting platforms like Charity Navigator and Give.org. These resources can provide insights into which charities are genuine and which ones should be approached with skepticism. Additionally, you can cross-check with the IRS to determine whether a charity is officially registered with them; this step significantly contributes to establishing the legitimacy of the charity.

    And please keep in mind, you can always donate money or blood to the Red Cross. This will not only help the people of Maui but the victims of other disasters as well.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on July 20, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: charity scam, , , , , , ,   

    Scam Round Up: Fake cops threaten tenants and more 

    Scam Round Up: Fake cops threaten tenants and more

    By Greg Collier

    Our first scam of the day comes to us from a warning from the New York City Police Department. The NYPD says they’ve seen an increase in a charity scam that involves Venmo and your phone. Scammers are approaching NYC residents while pretending they’re working for a charity.

    The scammers will ask for a donation through the personal payment app Venmo. The victim will be provided the information to make the donation, but the donation won’t go through. This is when the scammer will ask for the victim’s phone to help them make the donation. Instead, the scammers are sending the entire amount of the victim’s Venmo account to themselves.

    The NYPD is telling residents not to hand their phones over to strangers, especially if they’re asking for donations. Please keep in mind, Venmo was intended to be used between family and friends.

    ***

    We’ve been keeping a close eye on the scams that involve AI-generated voice-spoofing. Scammers will take someone’s voice either from social media or their voicemail message and run it through an AI voice program that will allow them to make someone’s voice say just about anything they want. Typically, voice-spoofing is used in the grandparent and virtual kidnapping scams. In these scams, scammers need the victim to believe they’re talking to a loved one.

    The most recent report we have on this is out of Atlanta, where a mother was confronted with this scam. She received a call she thought was from her adult daughter. She heard her daughter’s voice before someone on the call said her daughter saw something she shouldn’t have and has now been kidnapped. The caller demanded $50,000 in ransom.

    Thankfully, her husband was able to get a hold of her daughter, who was in no real danger.

    If you receive a phone call like this, always try to reach the person who has been supposedly kidnapped through other means. Even if you have a full conversation with someone who sounds just like your loved one, always verify the story. Ask them a question only they would know, or set up a family code word ahead of time that would signify who you were talking to.

    ***

    Residents of Newark, New Jersey, have reported that people posing as police have been going around to tenants and demanding multiple months worth of rent. If the phony officers don’t get the money, they threaten the tenants with eviction and arrest.

    In New Jersey, an eviction can’t be carried out until the landlord has received a judgment in court.

    If you’re renting your home or apartment, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s or county’s eviction process.

    Also, keep in mind, legitimate police will never show up at your door asking for your rent money. If someone claiming to be police does show up at your door, call the police department they’re supposedly from and verify if an officer has been dispatched to your home.

     
  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 15, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , charity scam, , , , Syria, , Turkey,   

    When Disaster Strikes: Beware of Earthquake Charity Scams 

    When Disaster Strikes: Beware of Earthquake Charity Scams

    By Greg Collier

    As you may be aware of, devastating earthquakes struck the countries of Turkey and Syria. As with any natural disaster that garners headlines, scammers are already trying to take advantage of the world’s generosity. While the traditional charity scams are being used, new scams have appeared in the wake of the catastrophes.

    Charity scammers often resort to cold-calling or sending unsolicited messages to target unsuspecting individuals. They may adopt deceptive names that sound legitimate or even masquerade as reputable organizations such as the Red Cross. It is essential to exercise caution and refrain from responding to any unsolicited communication, as this has emerged as the primary means of operation for such fraudulent entities.

    It is advisable to steer clear of making donations to charities with ambiguous names, such as “Disaster Relief Fund”. Such names do not clearly indicate the purpose of the organization, and it may not be apparent how your donation will be utilized.

    The situation has further worsened with the emergence of social media scammers on TikTok, where users can tip content creators. Fraudulent individuals are taking advantage of this platform by posting generic videos of disaster aftermaths, and falsely claiming that the tips will go towards relief efforts.

    Similarly, Twitter has not remained immune to these fraudulent activities. Scammers are posting AI-generated images of rescue workers holding children who appear to have been affected by the disaster, and soliciting donations to a Bitcoin wallet. It is worth noting that the pictures may appear real as they are generated using AI art programs, as in the example image above.

    To ensure that your charitable contribution makes a genuine impact, there are several steps you can take to verify the legitimacy of the charity you intend to donate to. Websites like Charity Navigator and Give.org provide a platform to verify the authenticity of various charitable organizations. Additionally, you can check if the charity is registered with the IRS, as this serves as a reliable indicator of its authenticity.

    In case of unsolicited contact, it is best to refrain from divulging any personal or financial information to unknown individuals. Exercise caution when considering crowdfunding campaigns initiated by anonymous individuals, as these may also be fraudulent schemes. By remaining vigilant and verifying the legitimacy of the charity, you can ensure that your donation goes towards the cause you intend to support.

     
  • Geebo 9:02 am on January 4, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: charity scam, Damar Hamlin, ,   

    Beware of fake charities in injured NFL player’s name 

    Beware of fake charities in injured NFL player's name

    By Greg Collier

    By now, most of us have heard about the devastating injury that happened to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during Monday night’s game. For those who may not know, Damar collapsed on the field during the Bills’ game at Cincinnati. Damar was attempting to tackle a Bengals player when he took a helmet to the chest. While the hit didn’t appear to be that hard, it had enough of an impact to send Damar into cardiac arrest. He rose from the field after the hit before collapsing. As of the time of this writing, Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition and is on a ventilator.

    Prior to his injury, Damar had set up a GoFundMe that would help children affected by the pandemic in his Pennsylvania hometown of McKees Rocks to get toys for Christmas. However, Damar’s GoFundMe has now been set up to help Damar fight his current battle, as his family put it. Thanks to the generosity of the American public, Damar’s GoFundMe has raised over $5 million.

    His family has also stated that Damar’s GoFundMe is the only fund being used by his family. To that end, a representative for Damar has said that scam accounts have shown up claiming to collect money for Damar. There is also a warning to avoid donating money to any Venmo or Cash App accounts that are claiming to be collecting money for Damar Hamlin.

    We here at Geebo.com would like to offer our thoughts to Damar Hamlin’s family at this time, and we’re hoping for his recovery.

    If you’d like to donate to Damar’s GoFundMe, you can do so here.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on October 28, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: charity scam, , ,   

    Grim donation scam plagues intersections 

    Grim donation scam plagues intersections

    By Greg Collier

    If you’ve driven any amount of time in the US, you’ve undoubtedly seen roadside donations taking place at a certain intersection. Often you’ll see the local fire department out collecting donations to help combat childhood diseases. They’re usually easy to identify since it’s clear who they are from their uniforms. Sometimes you might see a local civic group having a collection drive for any number of reasons. Again, they usually have plenty of signage identifying their organization and what they’re collecting for. But what if you saw a group of people collecting donations for a child’s funeral? Would you toss them a couple of bucks? If you answered yes, you may want to reconsider that donation.

    Recently, we’ve seen reports from various parts of the country where scammers are allegedly setting up shop in busy intersections. They’re said to be holding signs asking for donations to help pay for a teenage girl’s funeral. Or it could also be for the funeral of a young boy. However, the constant theme among all of the scams is the scammers have claimed they need money for a child’s funeral.

    And when we say, it’s happening in different parts of the country, we mean it. We have reports from Western Massachusetts, Southern California, Missouri, and another report from Southern California. While we don’t think the scammers are connected, it can’t be coincidence that these scams have sprung up all around the same time. It’s reminiscent of all the fake violinists who started appearing in parking lots across the country.

    Scammers will use every dirty trick in the book to either lull you into a sense of panic or pull on your heartstrings to try to get your money. And there’s nothing sadder than a funeral for a child to elicit a few donations on the street. However, a funeral scam is probably one of the lowest scams that someone can pull.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 19, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , charity scam, , , sick children,   

    Are charity drives for sick children a scam? 

    Are charity drives for sick children a scam?

    By Greg Collier

    With how expensive medical treatment in our country can be, it’s common to see people or families asking online for financial assistance regarding their medical expenses. According to the crowdsourcing platform GoFundMe, the main reason people open a GoFundMe page is to solicit donations for medical expenses. Unfortunately, scammers will pose as someone in need of financial assistance for medical expenses online. With more and more people becoming aware of these online scams, are scammers going back to asking for money on the street? That very well could be.

    According to a report from the Kansas City area, residents there are saying that people are taking to the streets and holding up signs asking for donations for children with severe illnesses. However, these signs have a modern twist. Instead of just taking cash, the signs also have indicators that you can donate money to various personal payment apps such as Zelle and Cash App.

    The reason authorities around Kansas City may think this may be a scam is because a group of scammers in South Carolina used the exact same picture of a sick child that the sign holders in Kansas City are using.

    Everybody wants to help a sick child if we can, and the scammers know this. Scammers are masters of emotional manipulation and will use every dirty trick in the book to separate a victim from their money. They want your heart to override your head when it comes to giving money. They want that immediate emotional reaction to result in an immediate donation. While an immediate donation might make us feel better, it might not be actually helping a sick child.

    As always, people should research before making any kind of chartable donation, so they’ll know the money is being put to good use. If you feel guilty about not making a donation to a sign holder, or if you just want to help, consider donating to an organization that has a good reputation for assisting those in need.

     
  • Geebo 8:01 am on July 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , charity scam, Highland Park, , ,   

    Mayor warns of scams in wake of Highland Park tragedy 

    Mayor warns of scams in wake of Highland Park tragedy

    By Greg Collier

    For the third time in three months, it’s with a heavy heart that we have to discuss potential charity scams in the wake of the tragedy that happened in Highland Park, Illinois.

    As you’ve no doubt heard, a 22-year-old gunman fired on a crowd that was gathered for the Chicago suburb’s 4th of July parade. Seven people lost their lives, including the parents of a two-year-old boy. Scores more were injured in the during the chaos.

    Again, in what has become even more common, the mayor of Highland Park has warned residents about potential fundraising scams during a press conference this week.

    Many scammers take to the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe to set up fake accounts posing as victim’s families when a catastrophe like this happens. However, GoFundMe has stepped up and once again posted a list of verified fundraising campaigns that will go directly to those affected by the atrocity. If you find it in your heart to donate, you can find that list on GoFundMe’s website at this link.

    However, there are other charity scams you need to look out for. Scammers love to cold call people, or send them unsolicited messages posing as a charity. These fake charities may have fake but official sounding names, or they might pose as a known charity resource like the Red Cross. You should not respond to any unsolicited communication as this has become the chief tool of the charity scammer.

    To further avoid being scammed or not having your donation going to where it’s needed most, it’s best if you research the charity before giving any money. You can research most charities at Give.org which is maintained by the Better Business Bureau, or Charity Navigator.

    I think I can safely speak for the entire staff of Geebo.com when I say that are deepest condolences go out to the residents of Highland Park and all those affected.

    No one should ever have to go through this.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , charity scam, , , Tulsa   

    BBB warns of scammers posing as crime victims 

    BBB warns of scammers posing as crime victims

    By Greg Collier

    Almost every time there’s a tragedy, whether natural or man made, we’re warning our readers to be aware of charity scams. Typically, these scams involve scammers opening up phony GoFundMe pages or cold calling people asking for donations. Unfortunately, the recent mass shooting at a Tulsa hospital is not immune to these warnings. In this instance, the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa is warning about a different scam when it comes to tragedies like this.

    The BBB of Tulsa is warning residents to be careful of scammers posing as victims of the shooting. While the BBB hasn’t seen any instances of this happening yet, they’re saying to be wary of social media profiles that claim to be one of the victims of the shooting. In previous cases, scammers have copied the profile of other crime victims in order to solicit donations. Scammers have hijacked the accounts of previous crime victims as well. As we’ve mentioned in the past, there’s no tragedy that scammers won’t try to take advantage of.

    If someone cold calls you looking for donations, be careful of any that have generic or vague names. Ask the caller who they represent, then investigate them online before committing any donations. If they try to pressure you into making a donation, there’s a good chance it could be a scam. The same goes for unsolicited emails, texts, and social media messages.

    One of the best ways to donate to an emergency crisis like this is to check with the area’s local news. They usually have a list of charities or entities you can donate to that they’ve verified. As always, you can research most charities at Give.org which is maintained by the BBB, or Charity Navigator.

    If you want to help not only during a current tragedy but a future one as well, spend with your heart, but only trust with your mind.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 1, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , charity scam, , , , Uvalde   

    Texas warns of charity scams after tragedy in Uvalde 

    Texas warns of charity scams after tragedy in Uvalde

    By Greg Collier

    It’s with a heavy heart that we have to publish one of these blog posts again so soon after the tragedy in Buffalo.

    As I’m sure you’ve heard, 19 students and two teachers were shot and killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In what has become all too common, the Texas Attorney General’s Office has issued a warning to be on the lookout for scammers who are looking to take advantage of this tragedy. Unfortunately, this has become common practice for scammers after any kind of calamity.

    The Texas AG’s office has warned residents not to divulge any personal information to scammers posing as charities. This information would include such items as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers. They also warn not to wire any money to questionable charities.

    It’s recommended that if you reside in Texas, receive a phone call from a questionable charity to call the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-621-0508. You can also file a complaint at their website.

    Unfortunately, scammers like this don’t just try to find victims in the states where the tragedies occur. They will often cast their nets nationwide to try to find victims to fleece.

    Once again, crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has set up a list of verified accounts where you can make donations if you so choose.

    As usual, you should avoid donating to anyone who cold calls you, claiming to be a charity. These supposed charities often have generic names like ‘the victims fund’ or something similar. They’ll use high-pressure tactics to try to get you to pay before you can hang up.

    Anytime you’re solicited by a charity that you haven’t heard of, it’s always best if you research them first before donating any money. You can research most charities at Give.org which is also maintained by the BBB, or Charity Navigator.

     
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