Nine Charged With Stealing Katrina Funds

[deadparrot]

SAN FRANCISCO - Nine people were charged with bilking the Red Cross of at least $25,000 donated for Hurricane Katrina victims, the
FBI said Tuesday.

Four suspects were contract workers at a Red Cross national call center in Bakersfield, said U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott. The other five allegedly picked up checks they weren't entitled to.

"This is very much an ongoing case," Scott said. "We are probably going to wind up with a lot more people charged."

The Red Cross said it set up the national call center in Bakersfield for Hurricane Katrina victims seeking assistance. Operators provide qualifying victims with a personal identification number they then present to receive funds from Western Union.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051004/ap_on_re_us/katrina_fraud

[uppityperson]

1. How big of an advertising budget does Red Cross have?

I have met individual RC workers who were wonderful people, but as a whole, I cannot and will not support them. Salvation Army does much better at getting help to the people that need it without ego battles.

[iamjoy]

2. I Won't Support Salvation Army

because I won't support bigotry.

For information about charities' fundraising expenses: www.charitynavigator.org

[maddiejoan]

3. Did they look like these nine?