HARRISBURG, Pa. – Yesterday Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane warned Pennsylvanians to be aware of schemes related to the recent earthquake in Nepal.

“When faced with such massive devastation, many Pennsylvanians will want to offer financial assistance,” Kane said. “Unfortunately, con artists may attempt to take advantage of the situation through fraudulent means.”

Attorney General Kane encouraged Commonwealth residents to consider the following guidelines when making a charitable donation for Nepal relief:

• Be cautious when giving to a charity created in response to this specific disaster.
• Donate to a charity that has a proven history of dealing with large-scale disasters and international relief efforts.
• Be wary of charity messages posted on social media. Do your own research to confirm the legitimacy of the charity.
• If you receive a request to donate via text or email, confirm the request is from the charity by contacting their office or visiting their website.
• Beware of look-alike websites. Fraudsters will set up websites that mirror those of legitimate charities in order to secure your personal financial information.

Pennsylvanians who suspect questionable charitable activity or believe they have been victimized by a disaster-related scam can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General by calling the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555.