ALERT: Be alert for Hurricane Harvey related scams

When disasters such as Hurricane Harvey strike, it is natural to consider what we can do to help and, often, that comes down to contributing something to disaster relief efforts and charities.  Unfortunately, there are people ready to exploit these disasters and our inclinations to help for their own gain and they are adept at using online tools to further their interests.

There are already numerous reports of scams attempting to exploit the relief effort for Hurricane Harvey victims.  Some of these might take the form of fake Facebook pages soliciting donations, some scams use Twitter and still other use mass email solicitations.  Before you respond to any pleas for contributions to hurricane relief efforts, please take time to assure that you are contributing to a reputable organization.  Never simply follow links provided to you in email or via Twitter.

Steven R. Dow
Director, CS Infrastructure
Nebraska Wesleyan University