Wise Giving Wednesday: FTC Warning on Disaster Scams

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calendar icon Aug 02, 2023



FTC Warning on Disaster Scams

Several days ago, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued an advisory on how to spot post-disaster scams in the Northeast due to flooding and storms. Among other things, it also warned the public to be on the lookout for charity scams. BBB Wise Giving Alliance supports this educational effort to alert the public. Below are some tips to help you spot potential trouble.

Tricks that scammers might use include:

Pressure to donate immediately

Well-run charities will welcome your generosity anytime and encourage you to find out more about them. Questionable efforts will pressure you to make an on-the-spot gift.

Claiming you donated last year

Tricking you into believing that you previously supported the charity, when you didn’t, can be another ruse to help gain your trust and contribute.

Similar sounding names

Sometimes name similarity is unintentional and simply reflects the fact that the charity is addressing the same issue. In other cases, a scammer might use name similarity to confuse you into believing you are familiar with the charity. Take the time to confirm the charity’s identity by visiting their website and searching for a charity report on Give.org.

Caller ID deception

Some scammers will use caller ID to make it appear on your cell phone with a local area code, even though they may be across the country. Don’t assume the call’s perceived location is the right one.

Emotional pitch

Most of us want to help those in need, no matter what the cause. Be careful if a caller is using sentiment to get you to donate without looking further. They might also include very vague descriptions about what the charity actually does.

When in doubt, check them out on BBB’s Give.org. Our website provides free access to evaluative charity reports produced by BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Better Business Bureaus. Find out if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Also review our Tips for Donors page for more advice on making informed giving decisions. If you want to report on a suspected charity solicitation scam, visit BBB ScamTracker, a free tool to report suspected scams. 

Heart of Giving Podcast

In this week's Heart of Giving podcast, BBB Wise Giving Alliance features the CEO of the American Red Cross, Gail McGovern. She talks about her passion for the mission of the Red Cross and her journey to become the CEO of one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

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