It seems that scammers always come out in the wake of tragedies to exploit the generosity of people who are anxious to help the victims of these events. Unfortunately, it’s no different with the recent shootings in Orlando. The kindness of strangers is always a unique opportunity for the internet scammers to come to the surface. We want to point out some of the things scammers often do in the wake of tragedy and major upheaval.

Scammers will appear on the tail of tragic events due to the high level of emotion. The Better Business Bureau of Florida has warned the public to be extra vigilant in the wake of the Orlando shootings. Knowing what to look for and using good common sense will go a long way in protecting you against cybercrimes.

Crowd-funding websites are often quickly organized after these types of tragedies. The problem is that it can be difficult to know who is behind them. Anyone can set up a GoFundMe type of site, claiming to raise money to benefit victims and their families. Because these sites are hard to properly vet, make sure you know who is behind it if you choose to donate through a crowd-funding site. The Better Business Bureau expects fraudulent sites raising donations to come after the Orlando shootings. It’s a way that scammers target people while they’re emotionally vulnerable.

If you would like to donate to the families and victims of the Orlando shooting, please do it through safe online sites, such as well-known charities. If you get emails with links asking you to click on them in order to donate, avoid them and close out that page. Go to your charity of choice directly by entering in their website address or doing a search for them. Avoid links that come in your email. Scammers also will take a popular charity or donation site and register it with a slightly misspelled name, luring people in that way. Many won’t notice it. This is why it’s important to do a double check of the accuracy of the URL address you are typing in.

A few other things to be aware of are:

• Vague Appeals – Don’t donate to sites who don’t clearly lay out how funds will be used and how they will be distributed.
• Proper Government Registration -Most states require bona fide charities to register with a government agency of that state before they can legally solicit funds. Making sure that your charity is registered is another way to stay safe with online giving.
• Individual Family Funds – Often, families of victims may have their own trust funds set up, and these are not required to be registered. In these cases, the Better Business Bureau encourages you to make sure the funds are received through a legitimate third party, such as a bank or lawyer.
• Clarity and Transparency – Any legitimate charity should always make it clear on their website how donations will be used and distributed. They will state financial goals and what they hope to do with the funds once they are raised. They want their donors to be as aware of the entire process as possible.

Remember, NOTHING should seem vague when donating to a charity. Never give personal information such as bank accounts, without knowing exactly who you’re donating to. If you suspect you have been scammed, notify the local authorities immediately. Also, be cautious and watch for changes in your credit score, odd accounts opened up with your name, and other signs of identity theft. It’s always a good idea to have an identity theft safeguard policy in place.

The bottom line here is that there are lowlife internet scammers just waiting to take advantage of the Orlando shooting tragedy. They are using a variety of phishing ploys that will try to lure you into everything from blood drives to links that claim to have exclusive video footage of the details of that awful night. Don’t ever click on these links just out of shock value and curiosity! Stay safe online and be sure to go through tried and true charities to donate and help the victims of this horrible crime.

Be sure to warn your friends through social media if you become aware of scammers. Word of mouth is still the best way to help people stay aware! Tech Sentries is always here to help you stay safe online and our prayers go out to all the families of the Orlando shooting.