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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 19, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Cash App ( 42 ), charity scam, medical expenses ( 5 ), Scams ( 1,386 ), sick children, Zelle ( 67 )   

  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.

   

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  Geebo 8:01 am on July 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity ( 17 ), charity scam, Highland Park, Illinois ( 4 ), mass shooting ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,386 )   

  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.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity ( 17 ), charity scam, mass shooting ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,386 ), Tulsa   

  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.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 1, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity ( 17 ), charity scam, mass shooting ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,386 ), texas ( 22 ), 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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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 25, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity scam, check scam ( 79 ), fake check ( 48 ), job scam ( 81 ), Scams ( 1,386 )   

  New tack on fake check job scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The fake check scam has been around since people started buying goods online. This is where scammers will send you a phony check for whatever reason and tell you to deposit the check in your own bank account. Typically, they’ll either ask for some of the money back or to use that money to pay someone else who is also in on the scam. Once the bank discovers the check is fraudulent, the victim has to pay their bank the amount of the check and any associated fees. Meanwhile, the scammers make off with money that they essentially made appear out of thin air.

  The two most notorious fake check scams are the overpayment scam and the job scam. In the overpayment scam, victims will have an item listed for sale online. The scammer will pay with a check that is much more than the amount asked. The scammer will say the check was made out in that amount accidentally and has the victim send back the difference. In the job scam, victims think they’ve been recently hired by a legitimate company only to be paid in fake checks. In many job scam cases, the scammers will tell the victims to use that money to buy supplies from a vendor that is in on the scam.

  Now, the state of Michigan is warning residents about a new version of the fake check job scam. The scam starts after a victim posts their resume online. The scammers hire the victim as a charitable donations coordinator. The victim is told that they will receive donation checks and that they should deposit the checks in the victim’s bank account before sending the money to charities that need it. In return for their service, the victim can keep 5% to 7% of all donation checks. The money the victims send out is sent out by Western Union, probably to other participants in the scam.

  There is one big red flag that should tip anyone off that this is a scam. No legitimate employer will ever ask you to deposit a check into your own account that’s supposed to be used for business purposes. For legal and logistical reasons, that is just not done. Anytime a supposed online employer asks you to do this, the check is fake, and they’re looking to take your money.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 16, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Buffalo, charity scam, gofundme ( 10 ), mass shooting ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,386 )   

  NY warns of scams after tragedy in Buffalo 

  

  By Greg Collier

  By now, we’re sure you’ve heard of the tragedy that struck the state of New York over this past weekend. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire on a Buffalo supermarket. Before he could be apprehended, 13 people were shot and 10 of them were dead. 13 families are now probably scrambling to pay for either medical or funeral expenses due to the selfish actions of a maniac. Neither of these expenses has reasonable costs, even when it’s something that can be prepared for. When it’s a sudden and wanton attack of violence, the expenses become even more difficult to raise.

  Historically, when a tragedy like this occurs, victims’ families will often turn to crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe to try to mitigate some of the cost. Scammers are also well aware of this fact, and will often try to use the tragedy to start phony charities of their own to capitalize on such a catastrophe.

  The Attorney General’s Office in the state of New York, has issued a warning to residents they should be informed about these scams before they take hold. To better educate New York residents, the state has a website at CharitiesNYS.com that can tell New York residents if a charity is legitimate or not.

  Many fake charities will try to solicit you through emails, text, or phone call. They’ll have vague names like ‘the victims fund’, or something along those lines. 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 also research the charity at Give.org which is also maintained by the BBB, or Charity Navigator. GoFundMe even has a page where you can donate to verified accounts of people who have been affected by the tragedy.

  In this time of crisis, we really need our donations going to the people who need them, rather than the pockets of scammers.

  Texas warns of charity scams after tragedy in Uvalde | Greg's Corner is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 5, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity scam, insurance ( 8 ), natural disasters ( 20 ), Scams ( 1,386 ), tornadoes ( 5 )   

  State warns of storm scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Recently, the Wichita-area of Kansas experienced severe weather, which resulted in at least one tornado that tore through the town of Andover. The EF-3 tornado was only on the ground for 21 minutes, more than 1,000 buildings were destroyed in the 13 miles the tornado traveled. As with any natural disaster, scammers will start popping out of the woodwork looking to take advantage of storm victims. In an attempt to get ahead of the scammers, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office issued a warning to residents of the Sunflower State.

  Even though the warnings issued are relevant to Kansas residents right now, every state has its fair share of natural disasters. Whether it’s flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, or what have you, scammers will descend on that area like a plague. So what’s pertinent to Kansas today could be pertinent to your area tomorrow.

  The most common scam after disasters like this are from shady contractors. These phony contractors travel from storm to storm, looking for victims. They’ll claim to be licensed, but they may not be licensed in your state. You should only deal with contractors that are licensed in your state. Another good way to avoid this scam is to get estimates from a few contractors. Also, you should never pay in advance as that could be an indication of a scam.

  Another disaster-related scam is when scammers offer to assist you in qualifying for FEMA relief assistance. FEMA does not charge any kind of application fee. So if someone claiming to be from FEMA asks you for money, they’re more than likely a fraud.

  This can go for scammers posing as your insurance company as well. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your insurance company, don’t give them any personal information. Instead, you should hang up and either call your local agent or the customer service phone number listed on your policy.

  For those of you living outside of disaster areas, you still have to be wary of scams as well. While you may have a charitable streak, be careful of donating to any random charity claiming to be for disaster relief. Real charities will never ask you to donate through gift cards, money orders, or wire transfers. Scammers will also try to pressure you into making a donation as quickly as possible.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on April 15, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: 419 Scam ( 2 ), charity scam, Foreign Money Exchange, Scams ( 1,386 ), Ukraine ( 2 )   

  Old scam updated for current events 

  

  By Greg Collier

  One of the oldest internet scams, if not the oldest, is the 419 scam. It was named the 419 scam after the legal code that outlaws the scam. It’s also known as the Nigerian Prince scam. Back in the dial-up days, scammers would send emails to their victims claiming to be a deposed prince from Nigeria. The emails would say that the fictitious prince was in exile, and needed the email recipient’s help getting his fortune out of the country. In return, the prince promised the recipient a good-sized fortune. This usually required the recipient’s financial information, payments to the prince to help him get his money, or both. While this scam has largely been relegated to the dustbin of history, some scammers have resurrected it with a current twist.

  According to reports, an email is circulating, claiming to be from the widow of a photographer who was recently killed in the current conflict in Ukraine. The name of the photographer is real, and he did lose his life in the ongoing struggle. The email goes on to say that the widow is dying in a Polish hospital and needs help getting their fortune to various charities. The recipient is then asked to email back, so the widow can release the money to them. While it’s not clear if anyone has fallen victim to the scam yet, it’s almost a guarantee it works exactly as the 419 scam mentioned above. Once again, this shows how scammers will use any tragedy or crisis to their advantage.

  This is a pretty easy scam to avoid. If you get this email, do not reply to it. Just delete it instead. This scam falls under the category of ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch’. If a wealthy person was in need of moving money out of country, they wouldn’t email random strangers on the internet for help. People with that kind of money already have safeguards in place if a crisis like this were to befall them. They probably also have teams of people to make sure those transactions go smoothly. So, if someone you know tells you they’re waiting on a Ukrainian widow to send them a big payday, try to break the news to them gently.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 28, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity ( 17 ), charity scam, migrant crisis ( 3 ), Scams ( 1,386 ), Ukraine ( 2 )   

  How to help the people of Ukraine without being scammed 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The Unites States is probably one of the most, if not the most, charitable country in the world. As a society, we do not hesitate to open our wallets and loosen purse strings when it comes to crises of human suffering. And right now, there is no bigger crisis than what’s currently happening in the Eastern European country of Ukraine. But as always, there is no humanitarian crisis that scammers won’t take advantage of, and yes, they are trying to take advantage of the situation in Ukraine.

  Social media posts have already started popping up that lead to websites asking for funds for Ukraine. Except these websites do not state what charity they’re supposed to be collecting for or how the funds will help the people of Ukraine.

  You’ll also want to avoid any form of solicitation when it comes to making any donations. This can include phone calls, emails, text messages, or messages through social media. These solicitors often use generic names for their charities, like ‘International Relief Fund’, or something along those lines. Also, avoid any supposed charity that asks for donations in methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. You may want to avoid crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, as scammers have been known to use them for scams after natural and man-made disasters.

  If you really want to donate to help victims of the current crisis, stick to well-known charities such as UNICEF, The International Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders. These organizations are world renowned for helping those who have been displaced through war, famine, or natural disaster. You can find lists of other reliable charitable organizations here and here.

  If there’s a charity not listed that you still want to donate to, please check with sites like Charity Navigator and Give.Org to make sure they are reputable charities.

  Now more than ever, we need our donations going to the people who need them, rather than the pockets of scammers.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 11, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: advance fee scam ( 45 ), apartment fire, austin ( 4 ), Bronx, charity scam, cryptocurrency ( 52 ), Houston ( 9 ), investment scams ( 10 ), parking scam ( 2 ), qr codes ( 9 ), san antonio, Scams ( 1,386 ), texas ( 22 )   

  Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Bitcoin, and More 

  

  By Greg Collier

  It’s time once again to bring you three scams from around the country you should be aware of.

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  Major cities in Texas like Houston, Austin, and San Antonio have reported a scam involving QR codes and parking. For those who may not know, QR codes are those square codes you sometimes see. If you point your phone’s camera at a QR code, it will take you to a website where you would normally be provided with additional information. In Texas’ case, scammers around these cities are placing QR codes around city-owned parking spaces. Once you scan the code, you’re asked to pay to use the parking spot. However, the money is going to scammers instead of the city. Along with your payment, the scammers now have your payment information as well. If you have fallen to this scam, you’re asked to file a police report and contact your payment issuer.

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  Cryptocurrency scams continue to find victims across the country. Recently, a North Carolina man lost $15,000 to one of these scams. He was contacted through social media to invest in a cryptocurrency company who claimed that profits were 100% guaranteed. Supposedly, the man’s initial investment grew to $95,000; however, he would need to pay another $14,000 to get his windfall. This is a new crypto-flavored twist on the advance fee scam. For example, when a scammer tries to tell you that you’ve won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes, but you need to pay a fee to claim your winnings. Please keep in mind that the crypto market is filled with scammers, and no investment, not even cryptocurrency, can guarantee you a return on your investment.

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  Lastly, we have to talk about charity scams again. We’re sure most of our readers have heard about the tragic apartment fire that took place in The Bronx recently. The fire has left several families displaced and many in the hospital fighting for their lives. You may feel the need to donate to a charity that would benefit these families. Be careful because scammers will use any tragedy to try to benefit themselves. The Mayor’s Office has set up a donation fund where all proceeds go to help the victims. There is also another city website where you can find additional information on how to help the victims. Don’t make a donation through a robocal. If you’re suspicious about a certain charity, you can always check with the BBB to see how legitimate they are.

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  While these scams may not be happening in your area, they could be soon. Hopefully, you now have the knowledge to recognize these scams.