01-05-2005, 12:07 AM
And while I'm at it...
Police warn of scams as tsunami donations top $65M
Last Updated Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:30:33 EST
TORONTO - As Canadian charitable donations for the tsunami victims top $65 million, police are warning donors to beware of fake charities.
Phonebusters, a national police group that keeps an eye on telephone and mail fraud, said reports of scams have started to trickle in.
Staff Sgt. Barry Elliott, with the Ontario Provincial Police, said he received a tip that some people have received e-mails that claimed to be raising money for the "Tsunamis Disaster Help Fund."
The charity doesn't exist, Elliott said. "We were expecting scams of this type to come to the surface," he said.
"The odd thing about this particular e-mail was they described how they got your address through a competition where your e-mail was drawn from a number of other e-mails, so it was almost like you'd won a sweepstakes to be allowed to give this company ... money to help the tsunami victims."
Business watchdogs are warning Canadians not to let telemarketers pressure them into making immediate donations if they suspect the charity isn't legitimate.
She also recommended sending donations by cheque or money order instead of cash or credit card. "That way you can trace it, you have a printed record of it, and you also have something for tax purposes."
Police warn of scams as tsunami donations top $65M
Last Updated Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:30:33 EST
TORONTO - As Canadian charitable donations for the tsunami victims top $65 million, police are warning donors to beware of fake charities.
Phonebusters, a national police group that keeps an eye on telephone and mail fraud, said reports of scams have started to trickle in.
Staff Sgt. Barry Elliott, with the Ontario Provincial Police, said he received a tip that some people have received e-mails that claimed to be raising money for the "Tsunamis Disaster Help Fund."
The charity doesn't exist, Elliott said. "We were expecting scams of this type to come to the surface," he said.
"The odd thing about this particular e-mail was they described how they got your address through a competition where your e-mail was drawn from a number of other e-mails, so it was almost like you'd won a sweepstakes to be allowed to give this company ... money to help the tsunami victims."
Business watchdogs are warning Canadians not to let telemarketers pressure them into making immediate donations if they suspect the charity isn't legitimate.
She also recommended sending donations by cheque or money order instead of cash or credit card. "That way you can trace it, you have a printed record of it, and you also have something for tax purposes."