Alert: Watch Out for Earthquake Relief Scams

In the wake of immense devastation following earthquakes in Turkey and Syria scammers are setting up fraudulent donation schemes.  Before you or your account holders move forward with a donation, take steps to ensure your donations will reach a charity and not a scammer. Follow these steps from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to identify and avoid these scams:

• Slow down. You don’t have to give immediately. Search online for the name of the charity you are interested in supporting, plus words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity.

• Check what charity watchdog groups say about the organization. Don't assume that familiar-sounding names or messages posted on social media are legitimate. Donate to charities you know and trust and with a proven record of dealing with disasters.

• Ask how your money will be spent. If someone calls to ask to donate, they should be able to answer how much of your donation will go to the program you want to help, and other critical questions.

• Look at fees and timing if you’re donating through an online platform or social media. Check whether your donation will go directly to the charity and if not, how long it will take to get there, and if there are fees.

Visit ftc.gov/charity before you open up your wallet. Learn more about giving through online platforms, and how to spot and avoid charity scams. 

For more information, click on this link for the full FTC Bulletin. 

Please contact your NXG Account Manager if you have any questions or you need assistance.