The earthquake in Haiti has all of us wanting to help.  Sadly, some people will prey on well-intentioned donors and fraudulently take money.   Please take a moment to review this advice from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department.

In the wake of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti, we wish to remind people that individuals with criminal intent will often take advantage of tragedies and natural disasters. The two most popular ways of doing this is through the internet or over the phone. This is often done by soliciting contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and /or a good cause.

Before making any contributions please verify the legitamacy of the nonprofit organizations.

Some other tips:
• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone.
• 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 the intended purposes.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.