AG Warns of Possible Earthquake Donation Scams

The stories, images and video of the tragic aftermath in Nepal following Saturday’s devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake has people reaching deep in their pockets to help the hundreds of thousands of families left homeless. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office is urging the generous residents to take extra care before writing those checks, though.

AG Kathleen Kane is warning Pennsylvanians to be aware of fraudulent schemes related to the recovery efforts from the earthquake.

“When faced with such massive devastation, many Pennsylvanians will want to offer financial assistance,” Kane said. “Unfortunately, con artists may attempt to take advantage of the situation through fraudulent means.”

The following guidelines should be used when making a charitable donation for Nepal relief:

• Be cautious when giving to a charity created in response to this specific disaster.
• Donate to a charity that has a proven history of dealing with large-scale disasters and international relief efforts.
• Be wary of charity messages posted on social media. Do your own research to confirm the legitimacy of the charity.
• If you receive a request to donate via text or email, confirm the request is from the charity by contacting their office or visiting their website.
• Beware of look-alike websites. Fraudsters will set up websites that mirror those of legitimate charities in order to secure your personal financial information.

Pennsylvanians who suspect questionable charitable activity or believe they have been victimized by a disaster-related scam can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General by calling the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555.