Phony charities popping up for Boston victims
MCPO Ret. in TN sends us a warning from the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The warning is about charities which have sprung up in the wake of the terrorist attack in Boston the other day;
NCCIC recommends that all persons looking to donate money in support of those affected by yesterday’s events rely on official fund raising charities such as the American Red Cross. Exercise caution when clicking on links or interacting with social media accounts that claim to represent the best interests of those involved in this incident.
Additionally, when searching for updates on the story, it is safest to go directly to trusted news sources rather than conducting general search engine queries.
I know this is happening because the inbox for this blog is filling up with organizations that want me to tap you for some coins. I don’t normally do that for precisely that reason. There are so many charities out there, I’d be spending all of my time researching charities instead of researching the creatures who keep you entertained. So stick with what you know.
Category: Phony Vet Charities
As we learned after 9/11, the victims and their survivors will be paid millions in tax dollars. The only one I can think of whose family may need help is that young MIT police officer.
The scammers all know that PT Barnum was right. Jonn’s advice to stick with what you know in this case is very apropos.
I used to wonder if Hell is a real place. Seeing things like what we’ve seen in the past week makes me pray that it is.
@3. Emily D. wrote, “Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need of hell.” She had in mind only those whose parting we mourn. Yes, there is a hell–even if it’s a flashing sign at Heaven’s gate reading: ACCESS DENIED.
@4 I always liked Emily. She had a way with words.
Wasn’t there a special bolgia in Dante for people who lied and defrauded? If there wasn’t, there should be.
Dante. Dickinson. I think you folks are at the wrong blog. Military types, Veterans, and their supporters are not supposed to be versed in things literary. At least, that’s what I heard.
I prefer not to give to individual events. I give every month to Team Rubicon and Lone Survivor and do projects with Soldier’s Angels. I figure events like the Boston bombing get so much media attention that the victims will be well taken care of and my money is better used elsewhere.
I do sometimes give to projects on Indigogo and Kickstarter too. In fact, here’s a soldier that could use a few more donations:
http://www.gofundme.com/CaptainGreg?utm_campaign=Emails&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email
You also have to watch for otherwise legitimate businesses. I took a job with Omega Meats after I lost my job on 10 September 2001. Two different salesmen used the 9/11 attacks as part of their pitch–one stating that 20% of the profits would be donated and the other saying that Guardsmen had ordered the meat but then gotten mobilized, leaving him in a bind as he had to sell it before returning to the shop. I left a few rather scathing reviews of Omega on various sites a few years back based on my experiences there.
I was taken for a fool by Navy Veterans of America (many of the readers here are well-aware of their history), and shortly after was hounded by Cancer Fund of America and other “charities”. After reading about the former group here I started checking tax documents whenever I receive a random call from a supposed charity, and ignore future correspondence from them. CFoA, for instance, had its top positions filled by a husband, and two or three of his sons. Salaries for them ranged from @$70k to @$250k, with vehicles provided by the “charity”. After initially pledging a small amount to them I started receiving two or three “reminder” calls a week, numerous letters, and even calls from other shady organizations like Children’s Cancer Fund of America.
I remember going past one of the “Save the Children” compounds in Kabul whenever we had to guard convoys going to the Darulaman section of town. It was well-built, also constantly locked up and UNOCCUPIED. I think the only time they had anyone in there was when they were filming some cheesy infomercial to fleece late night TV viewers out of their money!