Posted on Thursday, 10th June 2010 by Rebecca Ortiz
While many people may want to try and make a positive contribution to helping with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, others could use it as an opportunity to commit identity theft or other types of fraud.
The Federal Trade Commission recently sent out a warning to consumers telling them to be careful when contacted by people claiming they are collecting donations or offering assistance. Offers could come in a variety of forms, including phone calls, emails or even people going door to door.
“Chances are they’re trying to gain your trust to get inside your home or get access to your personal information,” the FTC said.
Consumers should be careful when clicking on websites from purported charities. To make sure they aren’t taken in by a scam, people should research the organization to identify if it is legitimate.
Where to check out a charity:
- American Institute of Philanthropy
- BBB Wise Giving Alliance
- Charity Navigator
Not doing so could lead to a person becoming a victim. Identity theft protection often involves consumers making sure they keep their information safe, which includes not giving it away to questionable sources.
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- Choosing The Right Credit Monitoring System Is Half the Battle
- 5 Tips for Using Your Credit Card for Charity Giving
- Treated Like a Criminal at Checkout? Don’t Put Up With It
- Identity Truth Review
- ID WatchDog Review
Tags: Oil Spill, Spill
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