MIAMI VALLEY — The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning people to be aware of potential scams before donating money to organizations helping victim’s of this weekend’s devastating storms.
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BBB of Dayton and the Miami Valley talked with News Center 7′s Haley Kosik about how to protect your wallet if you do decide to offer financial help.
President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, John North, says thieves are ready and waiting for the next natural disaster to happen.
When weighing donation options to help those in need, the BBB says there are several red flags that can help determine whether the organization is legit.
“If they really pull at the heart strings, if you’re getting a text by your telephone, those are all warning signs that this might not be completely legit,” North said.
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The BBB says to make sure that there is also a description of how the funds collected will be used. The non-profit also advises to check online to see if the organization you are donating to meets BBB’s charitable accountability standards.
“It’s always wise to give to a known source, a food bank that you know, the American Red Cross or some other organization,” he said.
Currently, the Salvation Army is helping survivors in Kentucky and the Dayton branch is on standby.
“They are providing meals, they are providing various types of drinks both for those that are affected, maybe some people that are in shelters and also first responders and workers that are in the process of helping clean up,” said Tim Erlandson with the Salvation Army Dayton Kroc Center.
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So far, the BBB said no one has reported people trying to use this weekend’s tornados to scam them out of money. If you end up being a victim to a donation scammer, the BBB says to call police. If you use a credit card, you can dispute the charge.
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