Better Business Bureau offers tips to avoid scams while donating
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Florida is dealing with the damage caused by Hurricane Ian .
When there is disaster or tragedy, many people feel compelled to give donations to aid in the recovery. Unfortunately, while there are people focused on helping, others are focused on taking money for themselves.
Scammers often come out of the woodwork to set up illegitimate charities and fundraisers to trick people into sending money.
The Better Business Bureau has a few tips to help those interested in donating for disaster relief.
The BBB recommends consumers to do research on an entity before donating. Investigate an organization to learn if it is reputable. If you stumble across an organization, or one reaches out to you that does not have a large presence through the internet or social media, it may be a scam.
Donating to an established charity instead of a new charity is more of a personal choice, according to the BBB. If an organization has been around for awhile, it may be easier to find information to confirm if they are reputable. News reports may help identify responding charities, but are not a guarantee that the organizations will use donations effectively.
Pay real close attention to the name of the charity. There are groups who want to confuse would-be donors with names that sound similar to well-known charities.
As a donator, it is important to be aware scammers that may mimic websites of legitimate organizations and steal personal financial information. Never click on links sent from unfamiliar charity organizations through emails or text messages.
Do not give out personal information like your address, names of family members, etc. Scammers can use this information against you and try to sound more believable. The BBB also generally recommends to not post personal information to social to avoid more types of scams.
It's important for organizations to be transparent with funds. Transparent organizations will post this information on their websites so anyone can find out without having to wait until the audits are available in the future.
For more information on how to avoid scams, visit the Better Business Bureau's website. The BBB also provides a scam tracker that will provide information on reported scams including ones involving charities.
