Herb Weisbaum: Hurricane Charity Scams Abound

SEATTLE - Americans are opening their hearts and their wallets to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been donated to the relief efforts.

But beware - con artists are trying to cash in on this tragedy.

The New York Times reports that the frauds involved with Hurricane Katrina are "more varied and more numerous than in past disasters."

Charity swindlers still use the mail and the telephone, they even go door to door, but many of them are now online. Cyber con artists hope to steal your money, snag your personal information, and sneak dangerous “spyware” on to your computer.

In some cases, they’re doing this by impersonating well-known and trusted charities, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. These bogus e-mail solicitations are going out by the millions.

"It's outrageous what they are doing to the American citizens, who are giving their hard-earned money to help people who desperately need their help,” says Mary O'Connell, with the real American Red Cross.

So how do you protect yourself? When it comes to e-mail solicitations for donations, there’s really no way to be sure it’s legit.

There also no way to be certain that when you click that link in an e-mail you’ll really wind up on the charity’s website. It could take you to a look-alike created by a clever con artist.

That’s why I offer the following advice: never make a donation by clicking on a link in an e-mail. If you want to make a donation, log on to the charity's web site yourself.

It takes a little more work, a bit more typing, but it’s the only way to make sure you don’t get snagged by the charity swindler.

For More Information:

Check a Charity

Katrina Charity Scams Try to Dupe Donors

How to Make Sure You Are Really Giving to a Charity

BBB Cautions Donors about Hurricane Relief Appeals