Beware Japan Earthquake/Tsunami charity scams

trumpton

Just a reminder really that terrible events like we are seeing in Japan will bring all the scumbags out of the woodwork with fake collections, fishing emails and all manner of lies to con people into thinking their donation is going to Japan.


Emails - don't click on links or attachements to emails unless you are sure you know who they are from, even if the email address looks genuine. If you want to donate go directly to a known charities website, don't click through links.

Beware doorstep collections, bag collection etc. Most big charities don't do this, especially in situations like this. Take your stuff to the shop instead.

Beware of face to face collectors in pubs, precincts, especially for charities you haven't heard of. They can sometimes use similar sounding names. Better to donate directly.

Be careful of charity pages on Facebook and other social networking sites. Again, stick to ones you have heard of.

The scenes we are seeing on tv are heartbreaking, but there are plenty of people who will be using it as an opportunity to cheat the genuine charities.

Any MSE'ers with further advice, feel free to add to the thread.

I will ask the mods if Martin could maybe put a brief warning in his weekly email.

RandomRamblings

@Sirmarcus
Thousands dead or missing, hundreds of thousands displaced and homeless, millions without electricity, and a potential nuclear meltdown. "ahh soo grasshopper"? Really?

You've used one of the worst natural disasters of modern times to make a racist joke? Why do you think making fun of a country, people, language is an amusing pass time and need to subject others to your racist views? Go to the BNP website if you want to post those kinds of comments.

I see that you have made many positive contributions to this website in the past, but this one is seriously lacking in good judgement. Racism is NEVER welcome, and certainly not now.

Freddie_Snowbits

RandomRamblings wrote: »

@Sirmarcus
Thousands dead or missing, hundreds of thousands displaced and homeless, millions without electricity, and a potential nuclear meltdown. "ahh soo grasshopper"? Really?

You've used one of the worst natural disasters of modern times to make a racist joke? Why do you think making fun of a country, people, language is an amusing pass time and need to subject others to your racist views? Go to the BNP website if you want to post those kinds of comments.

I see that you have made many positive contributions to this website in the past, but this one is seriously lacking in good judgement. Racism is NEVER welcome, and certainly not now.

To some, it is not.

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

One does feel that Great Uncle Jack's family will be offering the same condolences as offered to Mr Hirihito.

Note to censors. I suppose the comments above shall offend some, but not so the likes of my Great Uncle Jack, who was a prisoner taken in Singapore on 15th February 1942.

Freddie is currently blasting the neighbores with that R.E.M. Classic 'It's the End of the World as WE know it!'

As for Grasshopper, he was Chinese

RandomRamblings

I was actually looking for info about where I can donate when I came across this thread.

According to the Washington State Office official websites include:
ifrc.org/en
savethechildren.org
globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/

If you want to check charities registered in England and Wales, you can do so here:
charity-commission.gov.uk

Freddie_Snowbits

DEC Link removed as they cannot be bothered to help
One has to question why the DEC is not, as of 2011-03-13, not appealing for help.

Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

updated: 12.03.11
A huge earthquake struck just off the east coast of Japan at 5.46am GMT, Friday 11 March 2011. The magnitude 8.9 quake was one of the largest ever recorded, it was close to the surface and only 80 miles from the city of Sendai. The Japanese authorities are already reporting that more than 200 people have been killed by the quake and the resulting tsunami, which was up to 10m high in some locations. It is clear that this is a major disaster and the impact on those affected has been appalling.
The response will be led by the Japanese government which is amongst the best prepared in the world for such disasters. They will be supported by national non-governmental organisations, including the Japanese Red Cross, which also have significant disaster response experience and resources. Japan has not requested international humanitarian assistance.
The members of the DEC and their partners are experts at responding to disasters in poorer developing countries. In these places, infrastructure is usually weak, government agencies often have limited capacity and many people are already extremely vulnerable even before a disaster due to chronic poverty. The Red Cross is the only member that also has significant expertise in disaster response in developed countries. Most of our member agencies are unlikely to play any part in the Japan response but the British Red Cross has launched an appeal to support the work of Japanese Red Cross.
Initial concerns about a potentially devastating tsunami fanning out across the Pacific Ocean were not realised with most locations experiencing only small waves. The Government of the Philippines for example reported that the waves striking the country were less than one metre high and did not cause any loss of life or significant damage.

Link to British Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal

bunny71

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Link to British Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal

And the British Red Cross say:

In the event that we receive more donations to the Japan Tsunami Appeal than the Japanese Red Cross and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can reasonably and efficiently spend, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to humanitarian disasters both here in the UK and overseas.

So The British Red Cross can't guarantee your donated money will go to Japan, which isn't much better.

Save The Children has an appeal, but I couldn't see on their website any mention of what happens re allocation of funds. Besides, I want to help the people, not just the kids.

I am thoroughly disgusted. I want to make sure my small donation only goes to Japan's people. Is there no British charity willing to do this??!

aheaton46

bunny71 wrote: »

And the British Red Cross say:

So The British Red Cross can't guarantee your donated money will go to Japan, which isn't much better.

So you'd rather the Red Cross wasted your money than used it sensibly? Bizarre.

All they are saying is that when their assistance isn't needed any more, they will cease the work. Pretty straightforward and hardly unexpected.

Freddie_Snowbits

Oh dear, I put the link up for those parishioners who want to donate. If the charity gets more than is needed for provide relief in this area, then should not the charity use the monies as IT deems fit or would you incur extra charges on the said to pay you back?

You have a choice as to whether you wish to donate or not.

wantmemoney

'I want to make sure my small donation only goes to Japan's people'....and how much will a mother of nothing need

trumpton

I am not a fan of Groupon and those kind of voucher buying websites because of all the iphone/watches/sunglasses stuff, but on Grabbit it was mentioned that if you donate through their site (goes to Red cross) they will match it, in the next 24 hours only and up to total of £70k max (I think).

Donations will be matched pound-for-pound up to the total overall value of £70,000
100% of your donation will go to the Red Cross


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3108144

It seems legit, though of course it will cost them a max of £35k and you need to put in email details to do it.