Incredibly, the Philippines, Vietnam, Samoa, Tonga, American Samoa and Indonesia have all been devastated by major natural disasters this week. According to the American Red Cross, “Typhoon Ketsana dropped a foot and a half of rain in just six hours in Manila, Philippines impacting 1.9 million people. In Vietnam, in addition to precious lives lost, waters drowned cattle, flattened homes and destroyed thousands of acres of rice fields. Up to 20 foot high tsunami waves came ashore on American Samoa after the earthquake in the South Pacific. Two deadly earthquakes a day apart struck Indonesia, leaving thousands dead and even more homeless.”
This grave description of the disasters may cause many to want to do all they can to try to help victims. Your Better Business Bureau encourages you to donate but do your homework first.
Charity scams are unfortunately quite common these days and some of the red flags to watch out for are; charities pirating the names of trusted, well-known organizations, (always verify) and those that exhibit an urgency or persistence to get your donation.
Your BBB offers more tips for donating to a reputable charity and avoiding fraud:
- Check with your BBB before donating to see if a report exists on the charity you are interested in, (visit: www.denver.bbb.org or call 303.758.2100).
- Before giving, ask for written information about a charity’s program and finances – especially if you are unfamiliar with the organization.
- Don’t bend to pressure to give money immediately. A charity that wants your money today also will welcome it at a later date.
- Make sure a charity’s Web site has a privacy policy concerning the use of your name, email address or other personal information.
- Check a charity’s “Form 990” report at www.guidestar.org. The Internal Revenue Service requires most tax-exempt organizations to file a public Form 990.
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About BBB
The BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Reliability ReportsTM on businesses and BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM on charities, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, your BBB also offers dispute resolution services for consumers and businesses. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada. Please visit www.denver.bbb.org for more information.