With no let up in the torrential rain that has marooned it since the last few days Kerala has been staring hard at a humanitarian crisis.
With nearly three lakh people in various relief camps and scores displaced, Keralites are rising up to the occasion and doing all they can to ensure their pals come through the dark times.
This is also the time when people, especially expats, who cannot physically support the rescue efforts, make copious donations through different means. This is where some caution is required.
Doners must make sure you don't fall prey to malicious sites or crowdfunding networks run by criminals.
Social media posts seeking help on Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook may include malicious URLs that link back to a phishing site.
Fraudsters may even set up fake Facebook pages dedicated to supposed victims of natural disasters.
The pages may host links to crowdfunding sites where donations can be made or contain malicious links to phishing and malware sites.
Tips to contribute safely
Navigate directly to the legitimate sites or charities you may consider donating to.
If you aren't sure about a charity site, research it first or donate directly to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in).
Be extremely suspicious of any attachment or link you may receive via email seeking help for the victims of disaster.
Pay through cheques and cards to donate directly to charities, not individuals. This creates a paper trail for tax deductions as well.
Do not give out personal information such as driver's license number, passport details, PAN, Aadhar, birth dates, mother's maiden name, etc. This information can be misused.
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