[May 22, 2013] Residents encouraged to be aware of fraud Tweet ENID, Okla., May 21, 2013 (Enid News & Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- With an outpouring of support for the victims of two tornadoes in as many days, the public should be aware there is the potential for fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. The National Center for Disaster Fraud asks anyone who suspects fraudulent relief efforts to contact them toll free at (866) 720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters. NCDF was established in 2005 by the Department of Justice to investigate, prosecute and deter fraud associated with federal disaster relief programs following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. The Department of Justice and the FBI remind the public to apply a critical eye and do due diligence before giving to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of hurricane victims. Solicitations can originate as emails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings, telephone calls and similar methods. Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, including: --Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming emails, including clicking links contained within those messages, because they may contain computer viruses. --Be cautious of individuals representing themselves as victims or officials asking for donations via email or social networking sites. --Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to, but not exactly the same, as those of reputable charities. --Rather than following a purported link to a website, verify the existence and legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by using Internet-based resources. --Be cautious of emails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, because those files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. --To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make donations directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. --Do not be pressured into making contributions; reputable charities do not use coercive tactics. --Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions. Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft. --Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by debit or credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. --Most legitimate charities maintain websites ending in .org rather than .com. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud by a person or organization soliciting relief funds or if you discover fraudulent disaster relief claims submitted by a person or organization, contact NCDF by phone at (866) 720-5721, fax at (225) 334-4707, or email at [email protected]. You also can report suspicious email solicitations or fraudulent websites to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. ___ (c)2013 the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Okla.) Visit the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Okla.) at www.enidnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]