Khanacademy: Internet Safety: How People Can Trick You Into Giving Them Money Or Information Online:

People Online are very sneaky. They will stop at nothing to get your money! They will do anything to do one of these two things:

1. Send you some money for a purchase or “donation”.
2. Make it seem like you know them, so you will trust them with things like account numbers, or credit card information.

Then, they will strike, and steal your money!

Here’s an example of how someone could trick you:

“This is Jutyut, the person who owns the site Give-To-The-Poor, and who sends hundreds of donations to people every month. Just send a donation here, at this link, and you’ll help save hundreds of homeless every second!”

So, thinking: ‘ah, that’s kind of Jutyut, I’ll send a donation right away‘ you may send them a few hundred dollars.

Nine times out of ten, the money for “nice sites” like that will be pocketed by the owner.

While you’re thinking ya, I did something nice today to help a homeless, and give them the 604$ that I donated, really, all you did, is give free money to some piggy-pig, who is stealing everyone’s money!

But… how can you tell if some sites are safe, if others aren’t?

Well, something like Give-To-The-Poor sounds dumb. Made-up. But the name doesn’t always matter. Help-The-Homeless may sound like a dumb name, but that could actually be a good site. You never know.

Just make sure whatever site you donate to is official. Where the money is actually sent to help the poor; not just the pockets of some Online-Thief!

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Thanks for reading!