Scammers Emerge Online as Many Nations Extend Help to Super Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda Victims in RP

Scammers emerged online as a lot of people worldwide want to extend help and relief to the victims of super typhoon Haiyan.

Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda), one of the strongest typhoons recorded this year, struck the Philippines last week leaving behind immense destruction and more than 10,000 people dead.

The Philippines cried for help and many nations responded to the call. The Philippines already received relief from different countries including the U.S. and Germany as well as from different organizations worldwide like the U.N. Several organizations posted donation requests on different social networks as well as some popular Web sites.

However, spammers and scammers took advantage of the situation and sent emails or posted fake donation requests. Some scams go directly to email inboxes and ask for donations for the victims of the typhoon. Scammers send details of where to send donations. Scammers deceive email account holders by affiliating themselves to well-known organizations but the bank details are personal accounts and are not directed to an organization. There are times that the organizations are fake or illegitimate.

In an example described bySymantec, the subject line posted is "HELP PHILIPPINES". The feel and content of the email is presented in a polite and heartfelt manner, so recipients could have a hard time noticing the same is actually a scam.

People who want to extend their help must be extra vigilant when opening unsolicited emails and must verify the organizations where they will send their donations. An email asking for personal and confidential information is an obvious sign of a scam.

Those considering donating to the victims in the Philippines can contact one of the organizations below to aid the relief efforts:

The American Red Cross

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

The Philippine Red Cross

Doctors Without Borders

World Vision

Habitat for Humanity

Save the Children

UNICEF

International Rescure Committee

Mercy Corps

Those with relatives residing on the affected parts of the Philippines may want to try checking the American Red Cross Safe and Well Listings or the Google Person Finder.

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