How low will people go? There seems to be a handful of dishonest people sending emails requesting donations to help victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. These low-bellied trawl pond scum will not only steal your donation, they will also steal your credit card or bank account information and often your identity.
The best way to protect yourself is to never click a link in an email requesting a donation. Never send a credit number in response to an email donation request. If you want to donate money to a charity to help victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, please do so by typing the address directly into your browser. CNN has a list of trusted charities you can feel safe donating to online (go to cnn.com/helpcenter and click on Donate & Volunteer).
Here are some safety precautions to keep in mind when it comes to charitable contributions. Charities will never send you unsolicited emails requesting donations. If you receive a request for money from a charity in an email, it is more likely an attempt to steal your identity.
Charities will never call your phone number to request a donation. There is an entire industry of telemarketers raising money for charities. The problem is, companies that do telemarketers stay up to 90% or more and only send a small amount to charity. If you get a call from a telemarketer, ask them what percentage of the money goes to charity. I do not know you nor will I refer you to an 800 number where your questions will be answered. It is far better if you politely tell the telemarketer no and contact the charity directly.