Friends, be on the lookout for these scumbags. If you encounter one of these frauds be sure to report them.
"Citizens looking to get involved with the relief efforts for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should be wary of scammers trying to capitalize on the tragedy.
Scammers are posing as BP administrators looking to process claims for reimbursement from the company, which has promised to pay those affected by the spill. These fake agents are asking for fees to expedite the claims process -- real BP officers do not ask for service fees. Similarly, scammers are posing as government agents who require a processing fee for services -- real government representatives will not ask for fees. The FTC encourages those affected by the spill to ask for proof that representatives work for BP or the government, and recommend citizens not fill out any paperwork without consulting the proper authorities.
Scammers are also taking advantage of sympathy for victims of the spill, posing as representatives of charitable organizations and asking for donations. Cynthia Albert, of the New Orleans Better Business Bureau, says scam artists use company names that are similar to real charities. "It could be a letter that's off, it could be a word that's off," she said. "You need to check out these charities and not just have a knee-jerk reaction to give."
Potential donors should verify the legitimacy of both the agent -- by asking for identification -- and the charity, by visiting www.charitynavigator.com or www.bbb.org/charities."
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