The Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery effort has spawned Opportunist both online and offline. The best way to stop these Opportunists is by not allowing them to profit from the tragedy.

One website offers to tell you how to help the Hurricane Katrina Disaster victims in return for your name and E-mail address. If you want to help just call the red cross and ask them to send you a pledge envelope. The Phone number is 1-800-Help-Now. You don't need to give your e-mail address to help.

Still another web site says if you donate $10 or more thru their web site they will give you your choice of products. You have no way of knowing if they will donate any or all of your money. If you want to donate online go to redcross.org and donate. Why trust someone else who is trying to sell you product to donate your money.

The offline marketers are calling you on the phone and using high pressure tactics to get you to donate. When these people call politely and firmly tell them no and then call a charity Directly and donate.

The Web Site charitynavigator.org is run by a non profit group that rates all charities on a scale of 0 to 70, Any Charity that scores 60 or above gets 4 Stars. Charity Navigator lists seventeen 4 Star Charities that are helping in the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Effort.