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Tuesday January 12, 2010 a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 destroyed thousands of buildings and homes affecting over a million people. As of today, over 9,000 dead have been collected from the streets and the estimated final number completely unknown. The United Nations report shows “at least 10 percent of housing in the capital was destroyed, making about 300,000 homeless, but in some areas 50 percent of buildings were destroyed or badly damaged.”

When I lay my head down on my pillow tonight I will once again remember this part of the world, all the families affected by this tragedy, and those who are leaving their own pillows to go help where they are able. Pilots are volunteering their time to fly supplies. Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel are in route or already there to help stabilize the sick and injured. Troops are being deployed to help with rescue and security during this emotional time. People are risking their own lives to help others, while I lay my head on my pillow tonight wondering what more I could do besides pray.

Today as I begin my research on how I can help a grim picture emerges. The dredges of mankind just can’t help themselves from rearing their ugly heads. Skepticism over where monetary relief is or will go is already being uttered. The FBI even released a statement on their website regarding scams.

01/13/10—The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

• Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
• Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via www.ic3.gov.

For a reputable organization, consider one of the ones listed below. These are but just a few of the many available.

http://www.redcross.org/

http://charitynavigator.org/

https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/donate.aspx?link=227

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

http://www.yele.org/