Beware of email scams for Typhoon Haiyan victim donations

SEATTLE -- Email scams that solicit the wiring of money to victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are surfacing and donors should give cautiously over the next few weeks, authorities warned Wednesday.

“Unfortunately scammers look to exploit our compassion for helping others during disasters,” state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. “Take time to research the charity you’d like to donate to so your hard-earned money reaches those in need, not a scammer’s wallet.”

“It’s heartwarming that many people in our state want to donate money to help with disaster relief in the Philippines,” Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman said. “We strongly suggest that people be careful when donating so their money actually goes where it’s needed instead of into the hands of scammers.”

The U.S. Justice Department, the FBI, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) said suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with Typhoon Haiyan should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721.  The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.

The Justice Department noted in a news release that in the wake of natural disasters, many individuals feel moved to contribute to victim assistance programs and organizations across the country.  The Department of Justice and the FBI remind the public to apply a critical eye and conduct due diligence before giving to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of hurricane victims.  Solicitations can originate as emails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings, telephone calls and similar methods.

Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, including the following:

Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming emails, including by clicking links contained within those messages, because they may contain computer viruses.

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud by a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, contact the NCDF by phone at (866) 720-5721, fax at (225) 334-4707 or email at disaster@leo.gov.

You can also report suspicious e-mail solicitations or fraudulent websites to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.