On Thursday, January 13, 2005, the FBI busted the alleged purveyor of a scam seeking to trick donors interested into contributing to South Asia earthquake-tsunamis relief. The FBI alleges that the person in question had sent over...
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800,000 e-mails seeking donations for tsunamis relief. The scam involved the use of e-mail containing images allegedly lifted from the Mercy Corps website, and requested that payment be made to a Pay-Pal account, according to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette entitled “Carrick Man Charged in Tsunami Relief Scam.” Fortunately, the public isn’t as gullible as many often believe. At the time of the arrest, the alleged scammer had only raised $150 from one donor, according to the Post-Gazette. Mercy Corps is a well-known and reputable relief organization.
Not surprisingly. the alleged scammer is said to have rationalized the scam in his own mind, apparently telling the FBI that he believed the scam would be OK if he gave some of the money to charity.
Making Your Donation Count
The horrific earthquake and tsunami that decimated parts of Southeast Asia showed the fragility of human life and the worst ravages of nature. Fortunately, though, it has also illustrated an incredible spirit of generosity and volunteerism. People have truly come together to forge a lifesaving response to this unprecedented disaster.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people try to profit from tragic events like the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Please be cautious of suspicious emails claiming to be from Mercy Corps that solicit donations through sites such as PayPal. These emails do not come from Mercy Corps, and donations made through PayPal do not reach us.
Please make sure that any donation you make to Mercy Corps is made to us through our website or donation link (CharityWeb), by calling 1-888-256-1900 or by mail to:
[CONTACT INFORMATION OMITTED]
If you feel that you have been contacted by someone fraudulently claiming to be from Mercy Corps, please use our convenient contact form and choose the “Donor Services” option....
Our Advice: Do not respond to e-mail, phone, or door-to-door solicitations. When making an online-contribution, don’t follow links to organizations claiming to be relief organizations (otherwise you may be scammed through an Internet phishing site). Instead, enter the Internet address of the intended charity directly in your browser. Remember, charities will generally use the “.org” domain designation rather than the “.com” so be careful when you enter the address. Give only to reputable and well-known organizations. Use a credit card or check. Do not send or give cash to anyone. Do not make payments to a PayPal or other Internet payment intermediary. The well-known relief organizations accept credit cards. They do not rely on Internet payment intermediaries. When in doubt, pick up the phone. Don't hesitate to call the Better Business Bureau or your state's charity official (likely a division of the attorney general or secretary of state).
Mercy Corps issued the following press release in apparent response to the scam:
