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How to Donate to Haiti earthquake victims: Don’t donate to scammers

Written on January 18, 2010 | Posted in How To |

haiti earthquake victim How to Donate to Haiti earthquake victims: Don’t donate to scammers A 7.0 magnitude devastating earthquake in Haiti has left thousands feared dead, and thousands more lost in the destruction in and around the capital Port-au-Prince, home to some 1.9 million people. The earthquake struck Haiti On January 12, 2010 & the number of victims is estimated in the thousands. Several prominent public figures are among the dead. The Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive recently announced that over 70,000 bodies have been buried in mass graves.

In this miserable condition many countries along with many organizations have responded to the appeals and launched fund-raising efforts, as well as sending search & rescue teams.

The moment tragedy hits, the first instinct for many is to ask how they can help. Sadly, this need to assist victims of tragedy is a goldmine for criminals seeking to capitalize on the suffering of others. The horror in Haiti is no different, and scam artists are more then willing to help you donate every penny, not to the people of Haiti, but to their own filthy greed-driven pocketbooks.

The State Department, the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission are encouraging Americans to choose carefully when considering urgent appeals for aid or donate to Haiti. Even the Better Business Bureau is cautioning consumers about clarion calls.

“You don’t have to give to someone who calls, writes or emails you out of the blue,” David Vladeck, director of consumer protection, said in an FTC blog. “It’s a good idea to give through a Web site or phone number that you know is legitimate.”

There are certain suspect websites, collecting funds at this exact moment, in the name of helping those in Haiti and other places around the world. Yet not one of them will take what you give and distribute it accordingly. Instead, they will keep your money to fund the ongoing scam, and, of course, themselves.

Donate to Haiti: Avoid scams and verifying non-profits

Know the difference between a charity that is raising funds directly or for other groups. There is a difference, and it will determine how your money is spent. The FBI has set out guidelines consumers should follow before making any kind of donation:

Do not respond any unsolicited incoming emails including clicking links contained within those messages.
Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via email or social networking sites.
Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by going to Internet-based resources that could confirm the group’s existence and its nonprofit status. Again, don’t follow the purported link to the site.
Be cautious of emails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions. Doing so could compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.

If you’ve received an email that might be suspect or feel you may have already been scammed, notify the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov.

Donate to Haiti: Reputable Charitable non-profit Organizations

As with any kind of giving, it’s wise to verify that the cause you are donating to is a legitimate organization before pledging your funds. Here’s how you can donate to reputable organizations providing aid to Haitians in urgent need.

American Red Cross

You can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross; the American Red Cross has already released $200,000 in aid efforts. You can also donate at American Red Cross’s website or through the Red Cross Facebook page, or call –. American Red Cross phone: 800-733-2767.

White House

The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.

Contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org.

Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill).

Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Partners in Health

A great resource for donating to Haiti after the earthquake and in perpetuity, Partners in Health and its partner organization, Zanmi Lasante, has been working in Haiti for almost twenty-five years. Donate to Haiti through Partners in Health’s website, visit Partners in Health’s Facebook page or call — phone: 617-432-5298.

World Vision

World Vision, a Christian charity which has been working in Haiti for 30 years , has about 370 staff members on the ground in Haiti and is flying 18 metric tons of supplies to the country.Donate to Haiti through World Vision’s Website.

Yele Haiti

YELE HAITI: Text the word “YELE” to “501501” and you will donate $5 to Yele Haiti, charged to your cell bill (one-time charge).

Yele Haiti is “a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment,” founded by Wyclef Jean in 2005. Donate to Haiti through Yele Hiti’s Website.

Mercy Corps

MERCY CORPS: Donate online , via phone (888-256-1900), or by mail (Mercy Corps, Dept W, PO Box 2669, Portland OR 97208-2669).

Mercy Corps is a group of 3,700 professionals who utilize their skills in aid victims in times of crisis.

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders has already treated over 1500 patients in Haiti as of January 14, and an inflatable hospital is on the way, according to the website and interviews. Donate to Haiti through Doctors Without Borders’ website or call — phone: 888-392-0392.

Hope for Haiti

As well as historically funneling money to deserving organizations and people working on the ground in Haiti, this Florida-based non-profit has, over the last 20 years, established three ongoing programs (education, healthcare and nutrition) for the benefit of the Haitian people.

Donate to Haiti through Hope for Haiti’s website or call — phone: 239-434-7183.

UN Central Emergency Response Fund

CERF has allocated $10 million to assistance in Haiti. You can donate through the UN CERF website or at CERF’s account at JP Morgan Chase Bank (1166 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY10036-2780; Account Title: Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Charitable Donations; Account No: 485 002671; ABA No: 021000021; Swift Code: CHASUS33 (for international transfer)). You can also text CERF to 90999 to donate $5.

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