FBI Warns of Chinese Earthquake E-Mail Scam
So keep alert, as you're bound to get at least a few e-mails soliciting donations to aide victims of the recent earthquake in China that has claimed the lives of 50,000 and climbing. The FBI on Wednesday offered the following list of tips to avoid getting scammed, many of which we've covered before, but it never hurts to review:
- Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
- Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations.
- Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
- Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
- To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to recognized organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
- Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site.
- Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the nonprofit status of the organization by using various Internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the organization.
- Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: providing such information may compromise your identity and expose you to identity theft.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
speaker said 3:41PM on 5-22-2008
whats would we do without scams, people have been scamming for thousands of years.
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Lionel Ripepe said 5:05AM on 5-26-2008
EXECUTING SCAMMERS WOULD BE GOOD !
jiggsjackson said 7:28AM on 5-23-2008
Give this to us in printer-friendly form, so we can post it next to our computers!
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jane said 8:36AM on 5-23-2008
We have received many requests for donations to aid our Iraq vets who have been severely injured. In checking the status of these agencies on-line, we learned that only one percent of a donation goes to the vets, the rest goes for "fund raising" expenses. We will stick with the known agencies - of course we want to help, but not to fund a program which costs 99% to run!!
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ROBERT F. UMBENHAUR said 9:30AM on 5-23-2008
ANYONE WHO SENDS MONEY TO ANY COUNTRY IS ONE WHOSE HEAD IS WHERE THE SUN DOES NOT SHINE. CHINA LITERALLY "OWNS" THE UNITED STATES, HAVING LENT US TRILLIONS! I SAY LET THOSE TOTALITARIAN MURDEROUS, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATING B_ _T _ R_ S TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE. MY ATTITUDE IS "CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME". I GIVE DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE IN MY TOWN, AND I KNOW EVERY DOLLAR IS AT 100%.
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lynn said 11:19PM on 5-25-2008
i totally agree and then they torture people for not believing the way their "suppose" to believe. They have torture, brainwashing units, and tons of stuff just to change their beliefs. we have too much going on in our own country, in our own state, county and city in which we live. lets help the ones around us first. why is it everyone is willing to help all those other countries and those in charge pushing for people to help other countries when we have so much suffering in our own community. HELP OUR OWN!!!
Lionel Ripepe said 5:09AM on 5-26-2008
Bravo Bob , your on the ball ! I agree with all your comments !
Jane said 9:57AM on 5-23-2008
Well no problem here. I feel sorry for the victims in China but I'm certainly not sending any money over there even if it's legitimate. We have enough people going without in MY country and I help mine first.
China has enough of our American money with all the trading that goes on.
BUY AMERICAN MADE!!! START A NEW OLD TREND!!
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Helen said 10:06AM on 5-23-2008
My heartfelt sympathy goes to the familes in China.
If I could afford to donate to any one, it would be here in the United States. Our country has had it's share of disasters and now an economical disaster. We need to keep America united right now, and help within our borders. China wouldn't be my choice if I were to donate outside of the good old USA!
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Dave Bakes said 10:57AM on 5-23-2008
And another "SCAM."
Subject: Important Notice: your AOL Account
From: TOSViolation@aol.com
"Problem processing your billing information. Please review our billing requirements at KW: Billing. Please understand that without promptly updating your billing information, your America Online Internet service may be discontinued." You would think that this would go to your Master Screen Name Acct., not only one of your other various screen names. And it goes on and on with a link to click: whatever; Please DON'T CLICK THAT LINK !!!!!! This is a fraud says AOL Billing Dept. this is why I always CALL AOL instead of giving the info requested online in the letter. Who knows where it's actually going to, surely NOT AOL.
Signed:
"Sincerely,
The AOL Billing Services Team"
Sure looks real enough but as I said previously: "this is a scam!!!"
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toytopp00 said 11:01AM on 5-23-2008
China has the one child only law, therefor this is the price you pay when you can't carry on the family legecy. Disasters will happen and you need to be prepared. Trust me they have enough money and don't need ours. HOME COMES FIRST!. Their Government eats, sleep, wear, drive, and travel first rate. Even their children are educated first rate......... look around in our Universities, High paying jobs that we need, Research centers, even businesses. They are not hurting. Only my prayers go out to them, and that is free.
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Johanna said 11:01AM on 5-23-2008
Robert Umberhaur is right.....China "owns" the U.S. Chinese banks have always been one of the richest in the world. Not only do they loan the US, "trillions", they also OWN THE TITLES to "gazillions" of properties purchased by Chinese immigrants with loans received by Chinese banks, this has been done by truck loads since the huge influx of Chinese immigrations in the 1970s who at first purchased homes in CASH - all from banks like the Bank of Hong Kong, etc. There is so much property owned by China in the U.S. that the truth will never be fully known -and- this in addition to the billions that the U.S. borrowed from China. Yep, the Chinese rich are perfectly able to fully help the earthquake victims, and they do NOT need your poor dollars, at all!
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UUGEE13 said 11:13AM on 5-23-2008
Not a dime comes out of my pocket for CHINA. They take that from me daily. We got pressing need right here, sorry.
Nothing could be finer than not to give to CHINA.
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sonja_blocker said 4:26AM on 5-26-2008
I don't think that you have a dime I only hope that you need help someday and no one would send you one penny. The people in China is human and I can't call you one.
BeHeard said 11:37AM on 5-23-2008
It is not the chinese citizens' fault that they live in a
screwed-up society. According to the NSCB, more than 80 million
chinese citizens live under the poverty line. This means that they
can't afford to buy even a plane ticket, much less an American house.
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SameSDifferentDay said 1:06AM on 5-26-2008
I can't afford to buy a plane ticket or a house. Why should I care that the Chinese can't?
Bubba said 12:04PM on 5-23-2008
"The Speaker" speaketh the truth...
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Bubba said 12:05PM on 5-23-2008
What are the "known" agencies Jane.......
Red Cross and that other monster has, I understand, millions in the bank, drawing massive interest. That money was given to them to help people. Their balance should be closer to zero
I pick the smaller groups that work one on one, money in and money out, like focusas.com and many others...
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el said 12:22PM on 5-23-2008
Most of us AMERICANS need to keep what we HAVE!
With insane ga$ prices, food co$ts & trying to keep our homes, why the **** should we give what we earn to anyone else? If I had a ton of $$$, I would donate more to the Animals. There are way too many scam spammers out there & it's really a shame. Heartless creeps!
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spambofirstblood said 12:56PM on 5-23-2008
Are you telling me that Nigerian Prince isn't going to send my life savings to those poor people in China? D'OH!!!
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