With people looking for ways to help those in need in Kentucky and other states during recovery efforts from last weekend’s severe storms and tornadoes, the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan is issuing a warning of potential charitable scams.
“Instead of clicking on links that others may send in texts and social media, make a donation directly through the charity’s website,” said Lisa Frohnapfel, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan, in a statement. “In an emergency, that is the fastest way to help those who need it. The BBB lists legitimate charities at .”
The BBB suggests starting with these accredited charities to provide assistance:
- announced how they are .
- (the national office is a ) also shared .
- is active in .
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding campaigns are already being set up for those in need. While some may be drawn to providing direct assistance to individuals, BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends the following tips:
- Give to people and organizations you know. It is safest to give to crowdfunding postings of people you personally know. If that is not possible, consider a posting that is being managed by an established charitable organization that can be checked out.
- Not all crowdfunding sites operate alike. Some crowdfunding platforms do a better job of vetting postings and projects that appear on their site than others. Review the site’s description of its procedures. If they do take precautions, they generally announce that fact loudly to help encourage giving.
- See if the posting describes how funds will be used. Vague descriptions of how the collected funds will be used should also be met with caution. Thoughtful collections will take the added step of identifying and verifying needs before money is raised.
- Don’t assume pictures represent an official connection to the person or family identified. Unfortunately, some crowdfunding postings may be using pictures of needy individuals without their permission. As a result, you can’t assume an official connection. Again, each site has different rules on what they allow.
Your contribution may not be deductible as a charitable gift. If a crowdfunding posting is claiming to be helping a specific named individual or family, donors in the U.S. generally cannot take a federal income tax deduction, even if the individual or family is in need. See , for more information on this subject.
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