Donate Japanese victims not criminals - ICTA
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT), a subsidiary
of the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, warns donors helping victims of the
recent disaster in Japan to ensure that their donations reach the
intended recipients.
This warning comes in the wake of a spurt of fake charity websites
created by cyber criminals calling for donations to Japan's recent twin
earthquake and tsunami disaster victims.
"Scammers are posing as legitimate charitable organisations, flooding
email inboxes with messages asking recipients to donate money for relief
efforts," SLCERT reports.
"Criminals have also registered a large number of domains with URLs
(or web links) that may fool users into thinking that they are
legitimate donation or relief sites. Sometimes these websites may appear
on top of web search results such as on Google," a senior SLCERT
spokesman said.
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) warns
consumers to be wary of responding to donation requests for Japan's
earthquake and tsunami, through e-mails or websites.
"Users should make donations only to legitimate organisations and
only through websites of those groups. The Red Cross, for example, is
accepting donations on its website. Also many communities have set up
their own charity programs and so in order to ensure that donations
reach the intended victims it is advisable to have Red Cross," the
SLCERT official admonished.
Donors encountering such a dubious solicitations are encouraged to
contact SLCERT. Email [email protected]. Phone 0112 691 692 could be
used for such contacts. |