Hurricane Sandy 2012 Aftermath: Avoid Hurricane Sandy Fraud; Protect Yourself from Donation Fraud

It might be a time for giving, but it could also be a time for scams when it comes to helping victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Many people across the country are looking for ways to help those on the East Coast who were affected by the superstorm that left millions without power and created billions of dollars in property damage to homes and business. But with the added attention to helping victims, federal officials are warning that there is a potential now for disaster fraud in the aftermath of the storm.

In a joint press release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice and the national Center for Disaster Fraud released Thursday, the agencies are warning the public to be aware of potential scammers looking to profit from such donations.

"In the wake of natural disasters, many individuals feel moved to contribute to victim assistance programs and organizations across the country," the statement reads. "The Department of Justice and the FBI remind the public to apply a critical eye and do due diligence before giving to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of hurricane victims. Solicitations can originate as e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings, telephone calls, and similar methods."

Already, some scams are underway, as Komo News.com reports. One such message circulating on the internet reads, "Help Sandy Victims and get $1,000 for Best Buy!"

"The message says something like: "I just got a $1,000 gift card from this site...thought you could use a break before the holidays," Komo News states.

Some scam artists are taking to sending emails that appear like they are solicitations from well-known and trusted charities.

"Practically any charity that someone has heard of there's probably a scammer out there who's tried to tread on their good name to enrich themselves fraudulently," John Breyault with Fraud.org told Komo News. Breyault says people should resist the urge to click on links in text or email messages related to Sandy, as they could also be malware that could damage computers or smart phones.

Before donating, people are advised to take the following steps:

• Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, including the following:
• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including by clicking links contained within those messages, because they may contain computer viruses.
• Be cautious of individuals representing themselves as victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
• Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to, but not exactly the same, as those of reputable charities.
• Rather than following a purported link to a website, verify the existence and legitimacy of non-profit organizations by using Internet-based resources.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, because those files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• To ensure that contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make donations directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
• Do not be pressured into making contributions; reputable charities do not use coercive tactics.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions. Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
• Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by debit or credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
• Legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services.
• Most legitimate charities maintain websites ending in .org rather than .com.

 If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud by a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of hurricane victims, or if you discover fraudulent disaster relief claims submitted by a person or organization, contact the NCDF by phone at (866) 720-5721, fax at (225) 334-4707, or e-mail 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.