KITCHEN URGES PHILADELPHIANS TO AID DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI

            PHILADELPHIA, January 15 — Following the tragic earthquake that has devastated the country of Haiti earlier this week, state Sen. Shirley Kitchen encourages the public to support relief efforts that are currently underway.

            “This is a humanitarian crisis that requires support from other nations. The people of Haiti are counting on American generosity as they continue to struggle to get basic necessities like food, clothing and medical supplies,” Kitchen said. “We are the City of Brotherly Love. Let’s all show our brotherly love by making a financial contribution to the organizations that are working feverishly to aid the earthquake survivors.”

            However, the senator warns individuals who want to donate to beware of scams that will inevitably arise from this tragedy.

            The FBI offers several helpful cautionary guidelines if individuals receive an e-mail relating to the Haitian earthquake disaster: 

·         Don’t respond to any unsolicited e-mails, including clicking links contained in the message;

·         Be skeptical of e-mails from individuals claiming to be survivors or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites;

·         Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by searching on the Internet to confirm the organization’s legitimacy, rather than relying on a purported link to the site in the e-mail;

·         Be cautious of e-mails that contain attachments related to the earthquake because those files may contain viruses;

·         Make contributions directly, rather than relying on others to make a donation on your behalf; and

·         Never give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions because providing this information could lead to identity theft.  

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