Posted on 12/30/2004 12:00:57 PM PST by John Jorsett
On eBay, sellers are hawking Pez dispensers, a gold necklace, a stuffed mouse, and a "hand-carved" Buddha statue with the promise that proceeds from the auctions will go directly to charities assisting the victims of the tsunami in Asia.
Visitors to tsunamireliefaid.com are directed to a crudely constructed Web site with photographs of those who appear to be tsunami victims and instructions urging users to send relief packages and $10 checks to a P.O. box in Germantown, Md.
As major aid agencies around the globe undertake what could be the costliest and most complex relief effort ever, the catastrophe in South Asia has also given rise to hundreds of newly born charities purporting to raise money for victims.
While the federal government has made attempts to crack down on charity fraud since September 11, 2001 - the Patriot Act increased the penalty of impersonating a Red Cross member to five years from one - and Internet users have become more savvy, phony charities are trying harder than ever to swindle donors on the Internet.
Many of these charities are anonymous and don't have the imprimatur of philanthropic associations. It's unclear if the fund-raisers mentioned above are legitimate. But according to those familiar with online fraud, people looking to donate to the tsunami victims ought to be extra wary of unfamiliar Internet sites and individuals collecting money or goods.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
It was just a matter of time.
To all- it's probably a good idea to stay away from Ebay in relation to tsunami donations.
FReepers have done a great job posting links and sites for legitimate charities.
I guess I shouldn't have been so quick to give to "Fast Eddie's Tsunami Relief Fund."
Good one. Beware of the "Help the Two-Headed Children" fund as well.
It's a serious issue, but a stuffed mouse ?? Who could possibly imagine that buying that would help in any way, and who would want one? I realise you can't necessarily answer that but, oh well. :-)
Is that you, Kofi and Kojo??!! Just couldn't help yourselves, could you?
I give only army blankets and canned milk.
It's not too late to make that Kwanzaa donation to the Human Fund - Tsunami Project.
In some cases, it depends on your definition of "legitimate charity".
Is this true? I'd like to know which charities to avoid.
Of the ones I recall having seen listed, I'll run through a few:
UNICEF- should not need much discussion. What can you expect from a UN agency.
OxFam America - far left wing group.
" Big agriculture corporations dump their surplus on poor countries, while family farmers struggle to compete." Yes, they are upset that evil American corporations provide food aid to starving people. http://www.oxfamamerica.org/
American Red Cross - has a history of raising money in connection with a disaster and they diverting the money to their other causes. They are also planning to transfer funds so that the Islamic Red Crescent gets local credit, rather than the American donors.
Habitat for Humanity - Run by left wingers - a Jimmy Carter favorite, but the money donated does seem to end up in the right places. (Disclaimer - I have worked on several Habitat builds, and will likely do so again. )
Many thanks. Guess I should "trust but verify" my fellow FReepers ;)
KEEP IT SIMPLE...DON'T GIVE A SINGLE PENNY TO ANY "AID" FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS. It will only reach corrupt government coffers or to rebuild the weathly tourist industry. There are needy right here at home, starting with the families of our fallen heroes of Afganistan and Iraq, who gets a mere pittance from the gov't companred to the disgusting sums we gave to the 9/11 millionaire widows.
Talk, talk, talk . . . when will the feds lower the boom on the biggest fraudulent charity of them all -- the United Nations?b
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