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Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties Warns Homeowners About Donation Scams Following Southern California Fires
Friday, January 17, 2025
BBB Offers Recommendations for Donating to Southern California Wildfire Requests, Warning to Beware of Click-Bait and Phishing Scams, Bogus Crowdfunding Requests
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties issues warning to businesses and consumers tied to donation scams following Southern California Fires. As reported, strong winds fueling a fast-moving fire in Southern California has caused more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes. For those seeking to help those in need, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to give thoughtfully.
Tips for Donating to Southern California Wildfire Relief Efforts
-- 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 (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity).
While disaster fundraising has not yet fully emerged for this tragedy,
donors might check with the following BBB Accredited Charities to help
start their selection of organizations offering help: American Red
Cross, Direct Relief, GlobalGiving and Salvation Army.
-- 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.
Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties intends for this advice to help donors to give with confidence while avoiding questionable efforts.
For more information
To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.
To learn how to protect yourself, go to "10 Steps to Avoid Scams."
Media Contact
Frank Tortorici, Marketing Maven, (908) 875-8908, frank@marketingmaven.com, https://marketingmaven.com/
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/better-business-bureau-serving-the-tri-counties-warns-homeowners-about-donation-scams-following-southern-california-fires-302347662.html
SOURCE Better Business Bureau
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