Police Report Fraudulent Solicitations for Victims of Irene

The Wauwatosa police are asking citizens to be wary of scammers seeking fraudulent donations for victims of Hurricane Irene.

A Tosa community support officer told Patch that the Police Department has received reports from the area of phony telephone solicitations, and a regional law enforcement network warns that internet frauds are also likely in the wake of Irene's devastation.

With Tropical Storm Lee currently drenching New Orleans and the Gulf states and Hurricane Katia headed toward another possible strike in the Northeast, the likelihood of such scams will continue, the officer said.

Truthful telephone solicitations for natural disaster are rare, and people should be skeptical of any such contacts because they are difficult to verify. Even someone claiming to be from a well known disaster-relief organization such as the Red Cross may be perpetrating a fraud.

The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army are among legitimate organizations coordinating disaster relief for Irene victims, and donations can be made directly through them on their websites.

Regarding internet frauds, the Southeast Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center issued the following situational awareness warning based on information from the Internet Crime Complaint Center:

"In light of Hurricane Irene, the public is reminded to beware of fraudulent emails and websites purporting to conduct charitable relief efforts. ... Recently several natural disasters, including tornadoes, floods and earthquakes, have devastated lives and property. In the wake of these events that have caused emotional distress and great monetary loss to numerous victims, individuals across the nation often feel a desire to help these victims, frequently through monetary donations.

"These disasters prompt individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization or a good cause. Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, (including) the following:

• Do not respond to unsolicited (SPAM) e-mail.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
• Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site.
• Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the non-profit status of the organization by using various internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of of the organization.
• Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.

"To obtain more information on charitable contribution schemes and other types of online schemes, visit www.LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com."