2004 Dec 26 Tsunami Victim Relief

More than 1/4 million (250,000) people may have lost their lives and millions left homeless in the aftermath of the earthquake and resulting tsunamis on December 26. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes.

The American Red Cross International Response Fund, which supports both immediate and long term relief efforts for disaster victims in tsunami impacted countries in southern Asia and eastern Africa. Immediately after the earthquake, the American Red Cross established contact with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and related societies located in the nine affected countries to determine how best the organization can be of assistance to those affected by the tsunami. Typically, the American Red Cross, through our International Response Fund, provides our international partners with trained personnel, relief supplies and/or direct monetary assistance.

Currently, senior leadership at the American Red Cross are in close coordination with our international partners to determine the scope of tsunami distruction path the monetary needs that exist as a result of this disaster, and, in the coming weeks, will make informed decisions as to how best to support this expansive international relief effort through direct cash assistance. When international disasters strike, the American Red Cross has personnel trained in three key aqua car competency areas: water sanitation services, family linking and reunification and relief supply distribution. An American Red Cross water sanitation engineer was deployed to the Maldives and two relief workers are on route to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Additionally, an American Red Cross team of workers trained in relief supply distribution will likely be deployed to the affected areas. The American Red Cross is also coordinating with other societies on how to evenly distribute a stockpile of $350,000 worth of relief supplies pre-positioned in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. These supplies include tents, blankets, tarps, plastic sheeting and hygiene kits.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned of Tsunami Scams

fake donation site ? The millions of dollars donated by individuals to relief efforts in Southeast Asia have brought criminals and scammers out of the woodwork, a slew of government agencies and private anti-fraud groups warned. Within hours of the earthquake and tsunami, scams began appearing online and offline. The same thing happened right after 9/11, and after every major natural disaster since then.

Web sites trolling for donations and tsunami-related spam to for-a-fee offers to locate the missing and sites that play off the disaster but really only are meant to infect PCs with Trojan horses and worms. Other ploys include e-mails purporting to include photos or video of the disaster and its aftermath; such attachments can, in fact, be worm and/or virus payloads.

These spam scams are similar to the standard "Nigerian chain letter" internet swindle - One of the tsunami e-mail messages that appears to come from a victim. The author says he is the son of Indonesian grocers who were killed in the disaster and asks for help in claiming his father's life savings of 3.2 million euro from a bank in the Netherlands. The rest of the letter strongly resembles the Nigerian chain letter.

Fraudulent Web sites have been set up pretending to be legitimate tsunami relief organizations. These sites request charitable donations, but in fact steal financial information and may be used for identity theft as well. Contributions go into the pockets of the scammers.

So be very careful who you gave your money to. People are encourage to make their donations directly to recognized charities and aid organizations to ensure that they are used for the intended purpose. Here is a list of bigger charity organizations, tour their website before giving your money:

Mayo Foundation
hospitals in Minn., Fla., Ariz.
Rochester, MN
mayo.edu
YMCAs in the United States
youth programs
Chicago, IL
ymca.net
Salvation Army
humanitarian relief, church
Alexandria, VA
salvationarmyusa.org
American National Red Cross
emergency relief
Washington, DC
redcross.org

Recently some people have reported scam artists going door to door and setting up booths in shopping centers to solicit "donations" for the tsunami victims. Before people give, they must beware! Visit give.org, the Web site of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, which reports on nationally soliciting charitable organizations that are the subject of donor inquiries.

Here are some tips to help spot charity scams:

BE WARY of every opportunity that presents itself especially when it presents itself in the wake of some big disaster that gets lots of media attention.
Ask for the name, address, and phone number of the charity. If the presenters claim that it is registered, get a registration number.
Verify with the office of the charity that there is indeed a campaign going on, or that they've authorized the charity drive that you're being invited to contribute to.
Don't ever donate cash if you can help it. Write a check to the charity and not to the person standing in front of you. This also helps you document the donation for your records and for your tax return. Remember not to give out bank information or credit card numbers.
Ask what percentage of your donation goes directly to the cause. Legitimate charities will have ready answers because they are used to the question.
Get a receipt with the name of the charity on it.
Be especially cautious about getting a charity donation request by email. Most legitimate charities don't use email for their solicitations.
Be especially wary about charities that claim to be raising funds for the local police or firefighters. Check with them first!
Don't give in to pressure or 'guilt trips' about 'suggested donations' or 'requested minimum contributions.' Once you've determined that the charity is legitimate and you've decided you want to contribute, simply give what you can and want to give.

Post your comment (1)

Mail this page