Fraudsters Claiming Bushfire Relief

[icyfroth]

Charities are being forced to engage cybersecurity experts to combat fraudulent claims for assistance with the Australian Red Cross having to fend off hundreds of bot-generated submissions for bushfire relief grants.

“There have been hundreds of automated attempts to access financial assistance,” he told AAP.

“There are a couple of hundred claims that we have concerns about and we are working through all of those and we have already referred a number of cases to the police.”

He said in one community alone they had applications for 15 homes that had been destroyed but when they physically checked the addresses none of them had been impacted by the fires.

An Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission representative said online fraud was a constant challenge for charities that drained limited resources and forced them to engage cybersecurity experts.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/charities-targeted-by-fraudsters-attempting-to-steal-...

Could see that coming a mile off. 

[davidc4430]

disasters bring out the worst in some people

[rogespeed]

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@icyfroth wrote:

Charities are being forced to engage cybersecurity experts to combat fraudulent claims for assistance with the Australian Red Cross having to fend off hundreds of bot-generated submissions for bushfire relief grants.

“There have been hundreds of automated attempts to access financial assistance,” he told AAP.

“There are a couple of hundred claims that we have concerns about and we are working through all of those and we have already referred a number of cases to the police.”

He said in one community alone they had applications for 15 homes that had been destroyed but when they physically checked the addresses none of them had been impacted by the fires.

An Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission representative said online fraud was a constant challenge for charities that drained limited resources and forced them to engage cybersecurity experts.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/charities-targeted-by-fraudsters-attempting-to-steal-...

Could see that coming a mile off. 

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Is a form of looting - and looters are traditionally dealt with how ? 

[bright.ton42]

Could see that coming a mile off

me too.     Which is why  there would be such a delay for the charities to disperse their moneys to   those genuinely in need.   

This sort of thing brings out the very best  and worst in people.   

[davidc4430]

i think herin lies the crux of slow payments

the figuring out genuine victims from fraudsters would not be a job id want

if it got out payments were being given to fakes there would be an outcry

so there has to be a lot of 'red tape' involved im sure.

these cretins who see an oportunity to get some free cash are not all stupid morons, a lot of them are very clever.

as allways its the genuine victims who pay the price

[rogespeed]

Is an interesting situation . How does the "public" find assurance that donated money is disbursed as advertised and confirmation as to the validity of the recipient(s) 

National disaster is a public domain issue , thereof integrity of remediation is of public interest

Actually there does not seem much in the way of reporting actual benefits realised by recipients - i mean what good has all that money done ? Do charity organisations issue reports describing the difference they have made ? 

[freddie*rooster]

Local Gumtree listing for 2 x 18 rolls of TP and a 6 pack

plus a 4 pack of paper towel $300

In their dreams.

It's gone so I hope someone reported it.

[icyfroth]

Wrong thread?

[brerrabbit585]

The same thing happened in 2009.  A relative worked for the Broadford council at the time and said people were claiming assistance despite not having been affected by the fires AT ALL.

[supermussolinibros]

there were many fraudsters operating on ebay during this time - when i brought up the fact that particular listings were obviously fraudulent what did the moderators do - they removed my threads on these forums, essentially facilitating the fraud.  Listings went through (mainly auctions) through to completion, and ebay got their money - everybody happy eh