The FBI’s nationwide crackdown on scams done in the name of tsunami relief is bearing fruit. An employed painter in Pittsburgh was arrested yesterday for a phishing scam trafficking on the reputation of Portland-based humanitarian group Mercy Corps.
Matthew Schmieder admitted to the FBI that he sent out 800,000 e-mails purportedly from Mercy Corps to trick people into sending him money through a PayPal account.
The NBC News story on Schmieder’s arrest at includes a good overview on the rapid proliferation of tsunami aid scams and offers tips on avoiding online charity scams.