Internet Scams Target Haiti Helpers

Florida-based e-mail con bilks generous donors

With the devastation in Haiti, everyone wants to lend a hand.

But some scam artists know no bounds, and they're targeting generous donors through a new phony e-mail which appears to be seeking donations for Haiti but is really lining their own pockets.

The e-mail looks real enough. It claims that the financial need is high, so they're only taking minimum donations of $100 or more. The money is supposed to go to the Red Cross through Western Union, and it gives what looks like a Red Cross e-mail address,

The real Red Cross was tipped off after a computer expert who got an e-mail, and considered donating, recognized something unusual in the computer web address and contact the Florida Attorney General's office.

"Whenever there is a need, some people are going to use that for their own advantage to make their own buck," said Cynthia White, with the American Red Cross.

White said the Red Cross has taken in $200 million in donations since the earthquake.

The Attorney General has gotten complaints from across the country about the scammers, based in Florida, who are trying to take advantage of the distress in Haiti and the willingness of thousands to help out.

"Those complaints are people calling in saying that they have given to charitable foundations that are presenting themselves as Red Cross or someone trying to help Haiti, and they're alleging that they are in fact not the organizations that they are putting themselves out to be," said Cindy Guerra, with the Florida Attorney General's Office.

Guerra cautioned that donors know who they're really giving their money to, otherwise the food, water and medical supplies they think they're giving to aid won't get in the right hands.

"Most of the relief is coming right out of Florida, we have a Haitian population that's very large, one of the largest in the country, so yes, I believe we're more susceptible," Guerra said.

For a list of websites of authorized organizations, go to www.charitynavigator.org.

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