BBB tip of the week: Safe giving after a tragedy
A recent BBB Scam Tracker survey found that 1 in 5 people lose money to a scam each year with annual losses estimated at $50 billion. With recent tragedies taking place around the world, more people than ever are trying to find ways to make a difference.
When a crisis hits, and especially when it hits close to home, we can’t help but feel compelled to do something. Whether its donating blood, giving money or volunteering, it’s important to know the most effective way to help out after a tragedy.
In the past year BBB Scam Tracker has seen nearly 200 reports of charity scams in the U.S. and Canada.
Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest and BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to keep in mind when looking to contribute:
Avoid high-pressure demands. Take time to research charities and avoid emotional pleas that do little to explain how the charity will help victims. Contact potential charities directly.
Use trustworthy charities. Be sure the charity is equipped and has the resources necessary to help with disaster relief. Review whether a charity meets all 20 standards of accountability at Give.org, a website run by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
Avoid cash donations. Write checks or pay by credit card to charities directly. Scammers will try to convince their victims to wire money or use prepaid debit cards to make a donation. Never give personal information or money to a telephone or email solicitor.
Double-check. Watch for “pop-up” charities with unverifiable background and contact information. Unscrupulous organizations may try to trip up donors by using names that sound similar to reputable charities.
Block social media pleas. Be wary of requests from fake victims or memorial social media accounts. Remember to verify the organization first before giving a penny.
Look closely at crowdfunding sites. Some crowdfunding sites do their best to verify a posted request is legitimate. But some may be set up by family members of victims, meaning it isn’t a charity, and will go directly into someone’s bank account. Those types of donations make it difficult to know where exactly the money is going and how it is being used.
Charity Navigator released a list of fake charities detailing just how rampant this type of scam can be. For more tips on giving wisely visit www.give.org.
Veronica Craker, Better Business Bureau