In the aftermath of the recent wildfires, San Diegans have opened their hearts to help the victims. These acts of generosity should be tempered with the reality that there are criminals who will try to scam people by claiming to be helping wildfire victims.
There are many things you can do to make sure your contributions are truly helping wildfire victims, while making sure you do not fall victim to a scam.
When Giving to Wildfire Relief Organizations:
*Take action on your own instead of responding to solicitations from unknown sources.
*Donate to established and reputable charities rather than ones that appear overnight for disaster relief.
*Do not donate through e-mail solicitations. Be skeptical of solicitations sent to you even if they appear to be from reputable organizations. Research the organization and contact them to confirm the solicitation and information about how to make a donation. Clicking on an e-mail link could lead you to a website that looks real but was created by scam artists looking to get your money or personal information to steal your identity. Scam artists have also been known to use "sound-alike" names or wrong addresses to collect donations.
*If you are not sure about a charity, use the “Charities Search” feature on the California Attorney General’s web site (http://oag.ca.gov/charities/). This will show you if the organization is registered with the California Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts. At this website, you can view IRS Form 990 financial reports that contain valuable information about the programs, activities, finances and priorities of charities. Registration does not guarantee legitimacy, but it is an important indicator. You also may be able to learn such additional information as how the charity spends its money, what programs are operated and when the organization was established.
*Do not give cash. Make checks out to the charitable organization, not the solicitor.
*Always tell the charity to earmark your contribution and write the designation on your check. By designating the fund, the charity is required by law to use it only for that purpose.
*Do not be pressured into giving, especially in phone solicitations. Even during an emergency, reputable organizations don't expect you to contribute immediately if you're not familiar with their services.
*Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion, but short on details about how the charity will help disaster victims.
If you need additional assistance, call your local Sheriff's Station. For contact information, visit: www.sdsheriff.net.
