WASHINGTON -- It happened during Hurricane Katrina and every other major disaster: Hucksters setting up bogus charities supposedly to help the victims when the only beneficiary will be the person or persons setting up the faux charitable group.
The IRS is warning consumers not to fall for these scams -- already being used by the unscrupulous in the wake of several recent disasters such as the tornadoes in the Midwest and the typhoon in the Philippines.
Agency officials say thieves play on the goodwill of people who want to help disaster victims.