As wildfires continue to ravage parts of Southern California, many people are eager to help those affected through online donations. However, the Better Business Bureau urges donors to be cautious to ensure their contributions go to legitimate charities.
The BBB advises avoiding donations to organizations with vague appeals and recommends ensuring that charities clearly explain how the funds will be used.
The BBB also warns that online scams are common during and after disasters. Scammers often use fraudulent links in emails or social media to mimic legitimate charity websites, with one letter or character altered.
To avoid falling victim to scams, the BBB recommends:
Make Sure the Charity Is Trustworthy: Before giving, search for the charity’s report on Give.org to find out if the charity meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. To see a list of BBB Accredited Charities supporting Southern California Wildfire Relief, click here.
Look for Specific Fire Relief Activities in Appeals: Be wary of relief appeals that have vague program descriptions and do not explain what activities your support will assist.
Watch Out for Click-Bait and Phishing Scams: Online giving scams tend to pop up after a disaster to take advantage of public sympathy. Don’t click on email, text, or social media links promising to connect you to a familiar charity. Instead, go directly to the charity’s website on your own.
Review Crowdfunding Requests: Some crowdfunding sites take precautions in carefully screening, vetting, and managing postings after a disaster or tragedy. Others might not. If unsure, review the procedures described on the site and also find out about transaction fees and other specifics.
Verify Charity Registration: About 40 of the 50 states require charities to annually register. Check with your state’s office of the attorney general or secretary of state’s office.
Understand the Phases of Disaster Relief: Most disasters go through three periods of activity: rescue, relief, and recovery. Each phase involves different activities and support. You can familiarize yourself with each phase on our Supporting Disaster Relief and Preparedness page.
Learn more about the different types of common scams on BBB.org/scamtips.