How to help ‘Yolanda’ victims but avoid scams
The devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda in the Philippines has left many people asking how they can help.
If you’re looking for a way to give, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, urges you to do some research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization that will use the money as promised—and as you intend.
Urgent appeals for aid that you get in person, by phone or mail, by e-mail, on websites, or on social networking sites may not be on the up-and-up. Unfortunately, legitimate charities face competition from who either solicit for bogus charities or aren’t entirely honest about how a so-called charity will use your contribution.
If you’re asked to make a charitable donation to support victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”) in the Philippines, consider these tips:
- Donate to charities you know and trust. You want to find a charity with a proven track record with dealing with these disasters.
- Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection with current events. Check out the charity with the , , or .
- Designate the disaster. Charities may give the option to designate your giving to a specific disaster. That way, you can ensure your funds are going to disaster relief, rather than a general fund.
- Ask if a caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and what percentage of your donation goes to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don’t get a clear answer—or if you don’t like the answer you get—consider donating to a different organization.
- Beware of offers of prizes. If an organization offers the promise of a guaranteed win of a sweepstakes, it’s very possible you could be dealing with a . Donating to a charitable cause is never a prerequisite to winning a sweepstakes prize.
- Don’t give out personal or financial information—including your credit card or bank account number—unless you know the charity is reputable.
- Never send cash: you can’t be sure the organization will receive your donation, and you won’t have a record for tax purposes.
- Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the .
For more on the questions to ask and for a list of groups that can help you research a charity, go to .