Don't let your generosity make you a target of fraud.

That's the message coming from the Yukon RCMP's commercial crime unit in the wake of the disastrous earthquake which levelled Haiti's capital city two weeks ago today.

The country was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which killed an estimated 100,000 people and has left up to half a million people homeless and without sufficient food or water.

An enormous international aid effort has been directed toward the tiny island nation, and Canadian citizens have already sent millions of dollars to aid agencies. But not all of that well-intentioned money is getting to Haitians, the territory's RCMP warned last Friday.

Police are reminding residents there are unscrupulous attempts being made to solicit money for the ongoing relief efforts.

The public should be reminded that if they wish to make a donation to assist the relief efforts for Haiti, they should do so to well-established national and international organizations such as the Red Cross, Oxfam, the Christian Children's Fund, Unicef Canada, Médecins sans frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and other reputable charities. Other donations can be made through government organizations or through your employer.

"The public should not be responding to e-mail solicitations for donations and should not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking on links contained within those messages,” Sgt. Don Rogers said in a press release.

People who want to make donations should verify the legitimacy of non-profit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group's existence and its non-profit status rather than following a purported link to the site.

Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, police advise.

"It's extremely sad that there are people who prey on the generosity of Canadians who just want to help the less fortunate but it is a reality and it's important to be aware of it,” Rogers said.

The sergeant provided a few tips to avoid being victim of a charity fraud:

• Be wary of appeals that tug at your heart strings, especially pleas involving current events.

• Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fund-raiser will give you information about the charity's mission, how your donation will be used and proof that your contribution is tax-deductible.

• Ask for the registered charitable tax number of the charity and question any discrepancies. Confirm the charity's registration information through the Canada Revenue Agency's website or by calling 1-800-267-2384.

• Check out the charity's financial information. For many organizations, this information can be found online.

• Ask for identification. If the solicitor refuses to tell you or does not have some form or verifiable identification, hang up or close the door and report the call to the RCMP.

• Call the charity. Find out if the organization is aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name. If not, you may be dealing with a scam artist.

• Watch out for similar-sounding names. Some phony charities use names that closely resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations. If you notice a small difference from the name of the charity you intend to deal with, call the organization to check it out.

• Be skeptical if someone thanks you for a pledge you don't remember making. If you have any doubts about whether you've made a pledge or previously contributed, check your records. Be on the alert for invoices claiming you've made a pledge. Some unscrupulous solicitors use this approach to get your money.

• Refuse high-pressure appeals. Legitimate fund-raisers won't push you to give on the spot.

• Be wary of charities offering to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect your donation immediately.

• Be wary of guaranteed sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution. According to law, you never have to donate anything to be eligible to win.

• Avoid cash gifts. Cash can be lost or stolen. For security and tax record purposes, it's best to pay by cheque.

• To file a police complaint, contact your local RCMP detachment.

To ensure your complaint information is shared with other law enforcement agencies, also file a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly PhoneBusters) by calling 1-888-495-8501.