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Scammers trying to steal donations heading to Haiti
People around the world are rallying together to help those affected by the crisis in Haiti. Despite the kindness and goodwill, there are always a few that will take advantage of such a situation. Gaming the search trends and people desperate to help, some internet scammers have set up fake charity websites with donations going right into their bank accounts instead of to those that need it.
In addition to fake websites, there is no shortage of email scams going around. Phishing scams are not new, but unsavory types are getting smarter and providing actual mailing information with very small changes that would fool the average person.
The Better Business Bureau has set up a website on checking the credibility of sites you are donating to. The most important tips are to be cautious, find ways to donate from reputable sites like the Red Cross and avoid email/texting-based donations unless you've heard they are safe from sources you trust. ed: as several of you pointed out, there's a big difference between hackers and scammers. We've made the appropriate edits - thanks for being vigilant!
Comments
9
Subscribe to commentsDrew GreenJan 15th 2010 10:02AM
It'd be nice to require registrars to provide the registration information of the people running these sites to law enforcement no questions asked and prosecute the hell out of them.
David432111Jan 15th 2010 10:06AM
This article should be titled something else as this isn't Hacking. It's just a scammer setting up a badly made website to lure the gullible and ignorant to donate money to a fake charity. This isn't stealing either, it's also scamming.
The title is misleading and should be changed, you make it sound like charity websites have been hacked etc.
VJan 15th 2010 4:37PM
That's exactly my opinion.
Not even Ars Technica is using this title, it truly denotes a lack of knowledge on the subject.
beejaydeeJan 15th 2010 12:18PM
Anyone caught doing this should be immediately shipped to Haiti, and placed in the center of town with a big sign around their neck saying, "I tried to steal charity donations intended to help victims of this tragedy."
maxCohenJan 15th 2010 12:30PM
Seriously, where do you get that hackers are doing this?
VJan 15th 2010 4:35PM
It surprises me to see on a so-called "dedicated tech news website" a headline that reads "hackers trying to steal..." when the word you should be using is cracker and not hacker.
It annoys the hell out of me that you have used the word ever so lightly.
flukeslapperJan 15th 2010 5:15PM
The word "hacker" has apparently become an all-purpose descriptor for anybody who does something with a computer that maybe they shouldn't. While technically, the use of the word may be incorrect, the focus of this article shouldn't be lost in the wording of the title. Hopefully, some "hacker" out there will find a way to trace the criminal pieces of crap committing this type of crime and report them to the authorities.
StubbersJan 15th 2010 6:05PM
I agree, can someone change this misleading headline?
PhobiaDHSJan 17th 2010 2:03PM
I would like to simply give you a big dose of "PISS OFF YOU UNEDUCATED PIECE OF DUNG!"
I actually hate people that don't care to educate themselves. Especially when they try to hurt those that actually matter.
So yeah... Screw you. Period.