What do 9/11, Tsunami and Katrina have in common? These are all disasters, tragic events where people die, lose their loved ones, or everything they have. In times like these, good people pull together to help the survivors in any way they can, including online donations. Scammers set up fake charity websites and steal the money donated to the victims of disasters.
Donation Requests
If your request for the donation came via email, there is a chance of it being a phishing attempt. Do not click on the link in the email and volunteer your bank account or credit card information. Here is an example of this type of scam.
Your best bet is to contact the recognized charitable organization directly by phone or their website. Remember, just because it is on the internet doesn't mean it is real.