Charity Scams

The Set-Up

A charity presents you with a need.

The Hook

You respond generously, without checking the charity's or collector's credentials.

The Sting

There was no charity, your money is gone, and the people in need get nothing.

 You are presented with an opportunity to be generous, and you respond. Unfortunately the charity turns out to be fake or a scammer pretending to be a real charity. You lose your money.

Natural disasters are often the trigger for fake charity scams. Scammers were asking for money immediately after the 2004 tsunami.

Other charity scammers will play on your emotions by presenting you with images and stories about sick children or homeless animals.

Variations:

Charity Lottery Scams

Scammers can set up lotteries and sell tickets promoting the idea that the proceeds will be going to charity. If you check the terms and conditions of the lottery, though (which you should always do) you may discover that only a tiny fraction of the money raised goes to charity.

Stay Safe

If you are contacted by a charity you have never heard of before, do some research before saying 'yes' to any appeal.

If you are approached face-to-face by someone representing a charity, look for official identification. Even if they have ID, check for signs that the ID may be faked.

Do not be pressured or intimidated or made to feel guilty. Genuine charities would regard such tactics as bad for their reputations.

Ask for full details of the charity, such as name, address, phone number and charity registration details. If the collector is reluctant to give out this information, find another way to contribute.

Help Keep Others Safe

Safety Tips For Internet Dating and Chatting

Internet dating may have some dangerous twists and turns

Looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right? Looking for a good time? Or maybe you want to find "a truly honest and good man or woman" to talk to. Do not fear, your dream date is only a click away! But beware- he or she may not be who you think. From dream date to criminal, you never know in the wide world of Internet dating.

Thirty percent of date-site viewers are actually inmates in prison, according to www.policenotebook.com. Although these inmates do not necessarily have direct access to the Internet, they correspond weekly through another person outside of prison. Inmates looking for help, love, or fortune on the Internet usually make only a passing reference, or none at all, to their criminal records.

"Aren't you fed up with meeting all the wrong men," posted an inmate named Harold Gordon. "In search of a truly honest and good man who is also in search of a partner? Well, have you ever thought of corresponding and having a relationship with a prisoner?" This man seems more to be held captive by romance rather than a guarded facility. But, however "innocent" he seems, Gordon is serving a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and sodomy with force and kidnapping.

While dangers from dating sites is not common, viewers should still consider that the person with whom they are talking with may not be anything like they describe. They may not be the gender they claim, and they may provide prospective partners with false names, occupations, ages, and addresses.

If you experience problems when chatting on the net, especially ones that involve threatening or offensive content, contact your service provider. But to avoid this drastic action, follow these safety tips before participating in an online chat:

1. Avoid giving out personal information.
2. Be cautious when agreeing to meet anyone in person whom you've met on the Internet. Find a way to identify your potential romantic partner before you allow a meeting. Bring a friend along just in case!
3. If you choose to arrange a meeting, make it on your terms. You should meet in a public place, arrange your own transportation to and from the meeting, consider a double date setting, and set your own conditions.
4. Also, stay in lighted areas throughout the entirety of the meeting.

The Internet is very much like a community; the majority of the population is composed of good people who do their best to obey the rules and behave responsibly; however, there are potential offenders mixed in with the general public. Take precautions on the Internet just as you would in everyday life, to ensure you have a safe and pleasant cyber-dating experience.