Charities Targeted In Identity Theft Scams

The Better Business Bureau cautions consumers about a new method of identity theft through the form of credit card fraud. This innovative technique is creating a surge in scams, by allowing thieves to test the validity of stolen credit card numbers more discreetly.

Instead of verifying if credit card numbers are working by shopping online, as thieves have typically done in the past; criminals are now testing the authenticity of stolen cards by making small donations to charities. This new method began gaining popularity after many online sites began to increase their awareness of fraudulent transactions and blocking them. It is suspected that the charitable donations are being made by the individuals responsible for purchasing the card numbers illegally, not necessarily by those selling the numbers.

This recent activity is detrimental to the success of charities because they are put in the predicament of refunding money that they believed they could account for. Scammers are also bringing financial strain to charities by causing them to employ staff to uncover fraud.  Even major, well known charities such as the American Red Cross are being targeted.

The Better Business Bureau urges consumers to take note of the purchases being made to their credit card accounts. Small charitable donations on a bill could be the sign of a much larger and more serious problem...identity theft!

To deter this from happening, the BBB advises consumers to shred paperwork containing personal information such as credit card or social security numbers. It is also recommended that consumers avoid responding to unsolicited mail or e-mails. Scammers may be using replies to verify that they are targeting the correct individual. 

The BBB also encourages consumers to verify legitimacy of a company or charitable organization prior to doing business with them or exchanging any personal information, by referring to www.ctbbb.org or by calling the Better Business Bureau at 203-269-2700, extension 2.