14 DAY TRIAL // If you want to help the Syrian people with donations, you can do so here, on the British Red Cross’ website. However, you should beware of unsolicited emails that appear to come from the Red Cross and ask for donations.
Symantec warns that scammers have launched a spam campaign in an effort to trick Internet users into wiring them money.
The phony Red Cross emails are entitled “Syria crisis” and they read something like this:
“Good day dear,
Every day Syrian people are faced with death and destruction. More than 5.1 million people have left their homes within Syria, 1.86 million people have fled to neighboring countries and 100,000 people have died.
Across the country, Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers and staff are risking their lives to get aid to the most vulnerable Syrians. However, as the crisis worsens, people need more water, food, medical care and shelter”
This part of the email has actually been copied from the British Red Cross website. However, the next part is where it becomes “tricky.”
The email’s recipients are instructed to visit the British Red Cross to make donations, which is legitimate. However, for donations over £500 ($775 / €584) users are instructed to send the money via Western Union or Money Gram to one Helen Paula.
The address of Helen Paula is genuinely the address of the Red Cross, but the email address victims are told to send the money transfer details to, [email protected], isn’t listed anywhere as being a genuine Red Cross email address.
In reality, The Red Cross accepts donations via credit card and PayPal, not Western Union and Money Gram, payment methods usually utilized by fraudsters because the money is more difficult to trace.
Furthermore, The Red Cross website accepts donations that are over £500 ($775 / €584) via its website.
Be careful! If you want to donate to a good cause, only use trusted charities. Never donate in response to unsolicited emails or phone calls.