The devastating earthquake that rocked Nepal brought widespread death and destruction.  Unfortunately it also brings out the unscrupulous people who will be taking advantage of those that want to help.  The Better Business Bureau offers some tips on making sure your donation reach their intended destination.

The BBB of Upstate New York says the easiest and most common way that people can help is by making donations to disaster relief agencies and charities that are experienced at working with disaster victims.
When these disasters occur many will feel helpless yet want to do something in support of the recovery efforts. Making a charitable donation is often the first action people will take, said Warren Clark, president of Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. Unfortunately, scammers will also try to take advantage of generous donors.
The BBB offers these tips before giving to a charity, especially if you are unfamiliar with them.
  • Check the charity out. Before making your donation, go to bbb.org to obtain detailed reports on relief organizations and charities. BBB offers Charity Review information about hundreds of charities and many will meet BBB’s Standards for Charity Accountability.
  • Look for experience. Give to charities that are experienced in disaster relief. While other charities may solicit donations for earthquake relief, these organizations may not have the ability to quickly deliver aid to those in need.
  • Avoid the name game. Watch out for fake charities that imitate the name of well-known organizations in order to confuse donors. Look-alike and sound-alike charities pop up on the Internet following disasters.
  • Give to tax-exempt charities. To ensure your contribution is tax deductible, donations should be made to charitable organizations that are tax exempt, 501(c)(3) charities.
  • Watch out for heartstring stories. Beware of emotional appeals that do not address how the charity will meet the needs of victims and their families
  • Never send by wire transfer. Avoid any requests for cash donations or to send money via wire transfer. Checks or money orders should be made out to the name of the charitable organization, not to the individual collecting the donation.
  • Protect your personal information. Do not give your credit card number or other personal information to a telephone solicitor or in response to an e-mail solicitation.
The Better Business Bureau offers links and more details specific to helping the recovery efforts in Nepal.

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