Comments on: Fraudsters break all records in Japan relief ripoffs http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 11:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1060886 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060886 If you hadn't said it Anne, I was going to. I believe I read that they were actually in Japan, working. I don't believe they've turned back. Despite Japan's resources, in an emergency I would imagine have additional doctors on hand would be very welcome. If you hadn’t said it Anne, I was going to. I believe I read that they were actually in Japan, working. I don’t believe they’ve turned back. Despite Japan’s resources, in an emergency I would imagine have additional doctors on hand would be very welcome.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055031 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055031 Also, it is a good idea to look up and compare charities that you're considering on charitynavigator.org (or a similar site that evaluates the effectiveness of donations). Also, it is a good idea to look up and compare charities that you’re considering on charitynavigator.org (or a similar site that evaluates the effectiveness of donations).

]]> By: urbanhick http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055032 urbanhick Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055032 Christ, what assholes. Christ, what assholes.

]]> By: akwhitacre http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055034 akwhitacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055034 What does it cost to launch these kinds of scams? Is it low enough that the Red Cross could have an out-of-the-box scam-anticipation system that would flood search results with semi-legit pages that redirect to official pages? What does it cost to launch these kinds of scams? Is it low enough that the Red Cross could have an out-of-the-box scam-anticipation system that would flood search results with semi-legit pages that redirect to official pages?

]]> By: eaglescout1984 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1059402 eaglescout1984 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059402 There is a special place in Hell for these people. There is a special place in Hell for these people.

]]> By: aphonik http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055061 aphonik Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055061 These scumbags should be rounded up and flown to Japan to lend assistance. They can start by carrying buckets of water into the failing reactor cores. These scumbags should be rounded up and flown to Japan to lend assistance. They can start by carrying buckets of water into the failing reactor cores.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055076 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055076 I am disgusted just by reading the headline I am disgusted just by reading the headline

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055090 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055090 One way to help Japan at present while also in some sense helping yourself would be to invest in those Japanese companies whose share prices are currently un-necessarily low due to panic selling...but you shall need to do research, just like before you give to any charity! One way to help Japan at present while also in some sense helping yourself would be to invest in those Japanese companies whose share prices are currently un-necessarily low due to panic selling…but you shall need to do research, just like before you give to any charity!

]]> By: Baldhead http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055350 Baldhead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055350 trying to work out why Red Cross wouldn't be the obvious first choice for just about everyone. People are stupid. trying to work out why Red Cross wouldn’t be the obvious first choice for just about everyone. People are stupid.

]]> By: David A http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055138 David A Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055138 And don't donate to blatantly religious charities either. People need food and supplies. Not cargo crates of books about bronze age mythology. And don’t donate to blatantly religious charities either.

People need food and supplies. Not cargo crates of books about bronze age mythology.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055652 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055652 the japanese government has just asked to *not* send relief workers to japan, if i'm not misinformed. and i'd guess, japan doesn't need financial donations. this is a G8-country. as devastating the tsunami was, it didn't affect the whole country, which means there are pretty much capable of handling the situation by their own means. they certainly don't need aid teams flying in, and, as it happened (with a german aid team), fly immediately back when they learned there might be radiation. really. if japan needs aid, they will ask for it. i believe they don't need catastrophy tourism. if one is not in japan right now, there's really nothing we can do. clicking on a link to donate some money will just achieve to give yourself a cozy feeling of having done something, and if you're really impulsive, maybe you've just filled the pockets of a scammer. there's a charity industry. they, first, feed themselves. be distrustful. ask for documentation: how much of the money i'll donate actually arrives at the purpose? how big is the percentage you'll eat up for your administration? you assault me here, on the street, but you're not willing to give me real information? you claim to work for a legit charity, but in reality you are working for an outsourced company who will actually take up to two years worth of my donation? i'm not heartless. but i certainly believe that direct help is the way to go. it might be better to give money to the proverbial nigerian spammers, as they will spend it, means: fueling it into the local economy, than paying the opulent salary of a charity's c.e.o. sorry for the rant... the japanese government has just asked to *not* send relief workers to japan, if i’m not misinformed. and i’d guess, japan doesn’t need financial donations. this is a G8-country. as devastating the tsunami was, it didn’t affect the whole country, which means there are pretty much capable of handling the situation by their own means. they certainly don’t need aid teams flying in, and, as it happened (with a german aid team), fly immediately back when they learned there might be radiation.
really. if japan needs aid, they will ask for it. i believe they don’t need catastrophy tourism.
if one is not in japan right now, there’s really nothing we can do. clicking on a link to donate some money will just achieve to give yourself a cozy feeling of having done something, and if you’re really impulsive, maybe you’ve just filled the pockets of a scammer.
there’s a charity industry. they, first, feed themselves. be distrustful. ask for documentation: how much of the money i’ll donate actually arrives at the purpose? how big is the percentage you’ll eat up for your administration? you assault me here, on the street, but you’re not willing to give me real information? you claim to work for a legit charity, but in reality you are working for an outsourced company who will actually take up to two years worth of my donation?
i’m not heartless. but i certainly believe that direct help is the way to go. it might be better to give money to the proverbial nigerian spammers, as they will spend it, means: fueling it into the local economy, than paying the opulent salary of a charity’s c.e.o.
sorry for the rant…

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055146 benher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055146 I am in Osaka, Japan. I am using the American Red Cross. Hands on Tokyo is also trustworthy but they (according to their website) are currently unable to proceed with any projects since they are at the heart of the tragedy. Please beware of fraudulent charities! We are overwhelmed by the generosity that we have been shown by the world and it would be a waste if your well intentions were not received. I am in Osaka, Japan. I am using the American Red Cross.
Hands on Tokyo is also trustworthy but they (according to their website) are currently unable to proceed with any projects since they are at the heart of the tragedy.

Please beware of fraudulent charities! We are overwhelmed by the generosity that we have been shown by the world and it would be a waste if your well intentions were not received.

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055148 benher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055148 It is worth mentioning also that Google, Paypal, and others have also been making donations easier. Just an aside - I hope someone gives Google and Twitter some kind of recognition for all they have done to help us over here. Google had an emergency response site up within 1 hour of the earthquake! I was using it to search for family and friends the same day. It is worth mentioning also that Google, Paypal, and others have also been making donations easier.

Just an aside – I hope someone gives Google and Twitter some kind of recognition for all they have done to help us over here.
Google had an emergency response site up within 1 hour of the earthquake! I was using it to search for family and friends the same day.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055183 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055183 @akwhitacre: It takes nothing for them to setup many of the scams, they already have the templates built. Most of the fake concern or news malware out there is pretty intelligent, checking for top news terms, running a diff between the last hour and the current hour and updating itself. Remember, the closer they are to the actual event, the less 'accurate' they have to be in the emails. After that it's just the usual stats grind on Barnam's rule. Since most of the sites are up for hours at most per IP/bot generation, they can improve themselves procedurally. @akwhitacre:
It takes nothing for them to setup many of the scams, they already have the templates built. Most of the fake concern or news malware out there is pretty intelligent, checking for top news terms, running a diff between the last hour and the current hour and updating itself. Remember, the closer they are to the actual event, the less ‘accurate’ they have to be in the emails. After that it’s just the usual stats grind on Barnam’s rule. Since most of the sites are up for hours at most per IP/bot generation, they can improve themselves procedurally.

]]> By: AnneH http://boingboing.net/2011/03/15/fraudsters-break-all.html#comment-1055736 AnneH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055736 Doctors Without Borders would be a good choice as well. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ Doctors Without Borders would be a good choice as well.
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

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