Making sure you don’t get scammed when donating

As soon as disasters hit, the scammers swoop in. People are starting to see instances of that in our nation’s most recent disaster, Hurricane Michael.

Scammers often take advantage of donors. The Better Business Bureau “Wise Giving Alliance” tells donors to give thoughtfully to avoid those taking advantage of the generosity of others.

BBB advises everyone to take the time to check out the charity to avoid a questionable or poorly managed effort. The first request for a donation may not always be the best choice.

“How much money are they actually of what they get, are they getting out,” said Jeremy Johnson, the marketplace manager for Better Business Bureau. “You probably want to see them giving out about 85 or 90 percent. If a charity is saying, “We give a hundred percent.” That could be a red flag.”

BBB also advises people to watch out for appeals that don’t state directly what is the intended use of the funds.

You can do your research by visiting Give.org and see if a charity meets the BBB standards for charitable accountability.