Where there is Crisis, there is Always Fraud
Hurricane Harvey, a massive Category 4, has devastated coastal regions of Texas, the major city of Houston, and surrounding communities. Americans have a long history of helping those in need after disasters. Tens of millions and possibly hundreds of millions might be raised from donations, like in the case of previous hurricane Katrina. Giving to those who need help is noble. But be wary of the scammers who use such events to solicit funds in the name of victims, but keep it for themselves. It is a huge problem.
Undoubtedly, you will be bombarded by requests to donate. Expect emails, websites, advertising links, phone solicitations, pleas in social media, and text messages all asking for your help. Some will be outright scammers, taking advantage of people who just want to help victims. Others may be legitimate charities but only actually deliver a small percentage of donated funds to the relief effort. The rest is siphoned off for advertising expenses, operating costs, large executive salaries, and business overhead.
Take a moment to think. Instead of texting some random number, clicking a web link, or giving to some unverified person, I strongly recommend you do a bit of research. If in doubt, go to the website of a trusted charity or aid organization and donate directly through their site.
When a Dollar is only 50 cents
Keep in mind, that not all donated money goes to victims. Charities take some for operating costs, including salaries of employees and executives. The percentage can be shocking. In some cases, only pennies on the dollar, actually go towards the cause. There are many responsible organizations and there are plenty who operate with a greater self interest.
Use sites like CharityWatch.org and CharityNavigator to understand how much of your donation will make its way to the people who need it. Also, charities will often hire sales and marketing companies to help solicit donations. The companies can take a large percentage of the money they raise in donations as their payment. Sadly, it has been reported that in some cases less than 1% of donated money goes to the cause. The rest is eaten up by bureaucracy, overhead, large salaries, and marketing.
Be Smart!
Don’t let scammers or high-overhead charities dilute your contribution or dissuade you from helping. Just be smart. When you decide to donate, make sure the maximum of what you are giving will go where you intend.
Image Source: https://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0817_hurricane-harvey/
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Why would you want to make a fake website to get money from donators who think their doing a good thing. how low do you have to go to make some money
Some people are criminals. They take, even when others are in greater need. Greed.
Very true indeed and it is so smart of you making this post to let everyone be aware of those fraud ones. I am one of the totally damaged victim when typhoon Sendong hits our city. Many goods from others countries like Japan send can goods and others to the victim but sad to face the truth even though it was giving to the public organization like dswd and others but what we had and brought to us is the local can goods and noodles. Some area maybe was given by a few of it can goods, towel and other kinds but not all of us but instead they keep it for themselves and to their members or employees. So are the funds that is for the typhoon victims it was given to the public official in public! But what we got is only 10k pesos for the totally damaged (means nothing left on us) during the typhoon and 5k to partially though we all know that 60k pesos should be given to us but it was go to the public officials pocket. Well, bad karma will be send to them as what many says. For they so corrupt and so are there other divisions who share what is not due for them. Sad to know when it comes to money some people will forgot what's is dignity.
Hope what you have shared will be an eye opener to the good people here in our Steemit Community for I know many is willing and have the capacity to help. But please before they do that it is necessary to know if what you have give will go to directly to those who really needs it and won't be wasted to the hands of those who only after for money for their own self serving activity.
But I have read that other elite steemians have form a group or foundations for those who needs and they go in that specific area. But I wonder everyone can organized an Steemit foundation every country or area so If calamities and any sudden events happen which requires immediate help or attention can go their and those who are willing to help which I know lots in here will give their donations to that charity or foundations and post what they have done in that place.
I always prefer direct effort to these inflated and non transparent organizations. Ive gone out with organizations at feed homeless people, but I've had a much better experience going with some friends and doing it ourselves. Of course there are certain precautions to make and this works better in some places than others. I wish there were more efforts like this though.
I agree! I led a number of tech service enabling efforts as part of hurricane Katrina. We had teams deploying satellite communications systems and pods of equipment for aid-stations across the south. Very proud of the teams I worked with and the people we met in affected areas.
Very true. It's crazy that people out there would actually use a crisis like this to steal money away from the victims... Just insane.
This site can be a great resource on how to find the best charities: https://www.effectivealtruism.org/
I agree. We have a local group in my town that is bringing supplies to Houston, so I'm looking to donate to them because I know where my donation is going. But you have to careful
Reading this I guess it was it was written in the USA, but it could equally well have been written here in UK. I guess wherever there is money and good hearts, this type of fraud will exist. Thanks for your timely warning.
Man will for man ..... It's call nature ... Please help people and be safe . Some people are criminals. So make the right decision ....
I know right. It's idiotic how trusting people can be. In my country there was a scam where someone calls your phone and tells you something like: Ooooh mum I've hit some guy and i need to pay him 10k or he will go to the police.
And mostly old people got scamed. And the funny part is that they didn't just give the money, there were some instances where the scamed just threw the money from their balconies!
I don't know how the charities work over here but probably the same way but with bigger percentage.
And it's really sad because the victims need the help
Oh lord help them! I had heard in news this morning and i can relate the same pain happening in Nepal too. I will pray for them
i had no idead. very informative
That's very correct @mrosenquist. Thanks for sensitizing us to this reality.
Oh my God. It's very bad to hear that.
upvote me
Add something relevant to the conversation and I will.
You are absolutely right. Some just comment and ask for upvote. That's pretty lame. You are right on this, scams like these flourish when there's disasters. The opportunists just ride on people's goodwill and helpful nature. I think if any is caught, they should be given harsher sentencing to serve as a deterrent. But this is just wishful thinking as many of such scums would never be caught.
Just a small tip don't do like that it's very upsetting sorry but it feels like for me really @emmy4great