From Yahoo:
“Want to help Ukraine? Avoid
these war scammers asking you for bitcoin and money.”
Scammers are looking to cash in
on the charitable giving surrounding the events of Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine, cybersecurity companies and consumer experts have warned. They suggest
two things before donating to help: Watch out for the fakers, and take time to
research legitimate charities and causes. While social media has made
information gathering and connecting a lot easier, it’s also a gateway for
cyber thieves to reach victims. The criminals are now hopping on the bitcoin
wave and asking for it on platforms like Twitter.
Avast, a worldwide cybersecurity
company, released a blog post warning users to watch out for these crypto
scams. “As cyber criminals seek to take advantage of the chaos, we have tracked
in the last 48 hours a number of scammers who are tricking people out of money
by pretending they are Ukrainians in desperate need of financial help,” wrote
Michal Salát, an expert on threat intelligence. “In the past, we have seen
similar scams for people stuck while traveling or looking for love.
Unfortunately, these attackers do not operate ethically and will use any
opportunity to get money out of people willing to help others in need.” Salát
said that what makes a post suspicious is the immediate mention of bitcoin,
especially coming from odd usernames that consist of numbers and letters.
Reports of scams have surfaced on other platforms as well, including TikTok and
Instagram.
But scammers are also using more
traditional methods, like email and websites, to reach potential victims. Tomáš
Foltýn with WeLiveSecurity said its researchers have unearthed a “bevy of
websites” that are asking for money for charitable purposes but are fraudulent.
“The websites make very vague claims about how the ‘aid’ will be used. It
should also be obvious — upon closer inspection, anyway — that none of them
represents a legitimate organization,” Foltýn wrote on a website post. “Also,
stay alert for emotional pleas for help that may land in your email.” Appeals
for money typically use specific language and range from heartbreaking to
threatening. As curated by several experts, some statements to watch out for
include: “Help, I’m stuck here,” “I have money, lots of money” (someone
claiming they need to transfer money and need your help to do it, which
includes transfer fees), “I need to give my loved one a proper burial” and “I
love you” (tapping in to common romance scams).
Crime prevention expert Rania
Mankarious, who wrote “The Online World, What You Think You Know and What You
Don’t,” told Yahoo News she’s been monitoring and trying to help combat scams
involving Ukraine. “With nearly 1 million Ukrainians in the U.S. and social
media accounts pulling at our heartstrings, generous Americans want to give and
do their part,” she said. “But how do we make sure that our hard-earned dollars
are going where they should?” She added, “Fight the pressure. Don’t give in to
sales calls or solicitations for donations that require you to ‘act
immediately.’”
When planning to give, here
are some ways to avoid being scammed, according to advice from Mankarious, the
Better Business Bureau and Avast:
1. Stick to well-known
organizations that have strong credibility.
2. Ask what percentage of your
donation will go to relief efforts.
3. While it doesn't necessarily
reveal a scam, research an organization’s current presence in Ukraine because
“not all relief organizations will be able to provide timely assistance unless
they already have a presence in Ukraine,” the BBB warns.
4. Be cautious of requests to
wire money, send gift cards or transfer through PayPal — charities don’t
normally request those payment methods.
5. Be wary of social media posts
promoting a charity or an individual needing money. Take time to flesh out
their authenticity.
6. Watch out for messages or
links, even from credible-looking organizations. Call or email them to further
verify that they are legitimate.
7. Here's a current list of
BBB-accredited charities working on Ukraine relief:
Catholic Relief Services
GlobalGiving
International Rescue Committee
Save the Children
To further research other
organizations, use Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, Guidestar, Candid.org or
the BBB’s give.org, which gives accreditation ratings.
^ It is very important to check
the different people and charities before you send them any money. It's harder
for Americans because many of the Ukrainians (like most of the rest of
Europeans) have money sent right into
their bank accounts and so we see all their banking information. Russian
Citizens are also trying to scam you out of your money. If in doubt - don't
donate! ^
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