Cybercriminals eager to exploit people’s desire to help put ads on Craigslist or set up websites similar to those of recognized charities and send out emails making appeals for contributions.
In the case of Hurricane Katrina, the problem became so pronounced that U.S. authorities established a task force to investigate and deter fraud related to the disaster.
It may come as no surprise then that a growing number of Canadians are worried about fraudulent charities that intend to pocket hard-earned donation dollars.
New survey findings show that 53 percent say they are less likely to give to charities because of concerns about charity fraud, while 65 percent report an increased concern over the possibility of fraud—particularly in the wake of a natural disaster.
This is up considerably from 51 percent in 2009, something Kirsten Beardsley of CanadaHelps says stems from media coverage of charity fraud in Haiti, as well as the case of an Ontario woman who pretended to have cancer in order to receive charitable donations.
