Beware of Haiti Charity Scams
You have most likely heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed at least tens of thousands of people. Many organizations are soliciting monetary donations to support the relief effort. The Red Cross has already solicited over $3 million through a simple donation method: texting. However, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection has urged Utah residents to beware of unregistered charities that are soliciting donations.
The Division of Consumer Protection reminds Utahns to beware of charity scams by taking the following preventions:
- Do not reply to unsolicited e‐mail (SPAM) messages and do not click on any links within unknown emails.
- Be wary of people claiming to be officials who are asking for e‐mail donations.
- Only open email attachments from people you know. Attachments may contain viruses that can impair your computer.
- Never give out personal or financial information over the phone or through an email which could result in identity theft.
To ensure you're donating to a registered charity, check out the list of registered and exempt charities available on the Division of Consumer Protection's site.
For continued information on the relief efforts in Haiti, visit the U.S. Department of State or the Center for International Disaster Information.
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