Beware of "ClickJackers"

Americans are generous to a fault. Something not lost on those who prey upon kind-hearted people in times of disaster. The news had barely broken last week of the catastrophic events in Japan when on-line disaster relief efforts began.

Some are legit. Sadly, many are not. I came across a new term today called "Clickjacking." Pretty sneaky stuff. Crooks create faux relief agencies, often hijacking, make that clickjacking the good names of reputable relief groups.

Add some video lifted off of Internet news sites and the scam is on.

The message is clear. Beware of e-mails, social media pleas and the like asking for your money. Better to go direct to the agency you'd like to give to. Many national and local news outlets are providing lists of places where your donation will actually help victims instead of crooks.

Want to double check? I recommend going to CharityNavigator. They rate the efficiency of how charitable agencies use the money you give. I don't know about you, but I prefer my money going to people who need it, and not bureaucrats or worse yet, crooks who prey on our generosity then disappear into the digital night.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

That one image...

When major events, good or bad happen, there's always one powerful image that seems to tell the story. It's the classic "One picture is worth a thousand words" to the power of 10. This picture to the left of a house floating miles out in the ocean is the one so far, that has brought the enormity of what happened in Japan home to me.

One house, miles out to sea, anywhere than where it should be. I don't know who lived there, but someone did. It was a place for family gatherings and parties. A place to come home to after work or school. Home.

Not anymore. An earthquake followed by a Tsunami changed all that. So this one house, part of a once likely peaceful and happy neighborhood, now floats miles away in a huge ocean surrounded by nothing. One small symbol of an event that there are simply no adjectives to fully describe.

One image. One event.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

I miss the squirrel

This morning's heavy dose of very heavy news including Japan, the Middle East, budget impasses and very shaky financial markets have me missing that water skiing squirrel. Remember that cute little critter? It was the classic "kicker," a light story that most newscasts used to squeeze in at the end of the broadcast.

Kickers aren't in vogue anymore, or at best rarely seen.

Yes we depend on newscasts both local and national to keep us informed. But my goodness there sure is a lot we need to be informed about and most of it not good.

I sure miss that squirrel. Hope he's OK.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations