News of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti rocked the world and many generous people wasted no time contributing what they can to help the victims of the first disaster to hit the area in almost two centuries. However, more and more unscrupulous parties are also trying to make a quick buck from the pain and suffering of the Haitians by scamming well meaning donors of their money. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance pointed out that this is the time to vigilant about such fraudulent charities and to stay away from them. Some scams involve revealing your credit card details, something that you should never do at all times. Here are ways to stay clear from such scams and make sure your donations reach the people who need it most.

1. Beware of blogs who appeared overnight asking for donations
It is very easy to create a blog or a website overnight and make it look like it has been there for months or years. That’s why you should be doubly aware of such sites and not give donations to that particular webmaster or blogger without as much as a second’s thought. Only go to reputable sites such as the Red Cross or the official Haiti Relief Fund. Oh and don’t be tempted to click on the Paypal donate button – these can be setup by ANYONE and you are likely to be sending your hard earned money into the waiting hands of a scammer if you do.

2. Watch out for spam emails and phishing links
Unsolicited emails that contain phishing links from seemingly reputable organizations can very well be fakes that compel you to “donate” to scammers instead.

3. “.org” over “.com”
A non-profit organization website URL usually ends with a “.org” rather than a “.com”. That said you still need to be careful when approached by a “.org” webmaster to donate.

4. Give to your church
You can also donate money, food, clothes or other necessities directly to your church if you do not wish to donate online or via mobile text. Doing so will ensure that your donations will reach the intended parties speedily.

The Wall Street Journal blog also has an interesting article about texting your donation to help the Haitians who are involved in last Tuesday’s disaster, and issues concerning donating to the right non-profit organizations.

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