It's pretty much a given now that con artists will use natural disasters as an opportunity to take advantage of people who want to make donations to help the victims. So if you're considering contributing to relief efforts for the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, here's what you need to know to make sure your money goes to a legitimate organization.
Tips for avoiding fraud
Don't respond to unsolicited e-mails from people claiming to be victims or representatives for a disaster-relief group. And don't click on any links or attachments within the e-mail because they may take you to a fraudulent site or contain viruses.
Beware of people asking for donations on social networking sites. If you don't know the person, it could be a fraudulent request. Even if you do know the person, you should contribute directly to an organization rather than through another individual.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Avoid telemarketers. Don't give personal information over the phone to anyone who is soliciting donations. Research an organization before giving.
Make sure a charity's Web site is legitimate. Scammers set up bogus sites that mimic real charities' sites. Misspellings of the organization's name in the url (such as redcros.org instead of redcross.org) or on the homepage are tipoffs that the site is fraudulent.
Avoid giving to newly formed groups. There's a good chance that groups claiming to have just formed in response to a disaster are bogus because establishing a legitimate charity takes time. Charity Navigator has a list of well-established groups that are providing relief to victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. You also can research charities at the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance site.
Tips for selecting and giving to a charity
As you're selecting a charity, you should consider what you want your donation to accomplish and ensure that your dollars will be spent wisely. Charity Navigator and BBB offer this advice to consider before you give:
Don't rush. Even if you feel an urgent need to help the disaster victims in Japan, you may want to wait to give until charities have time to develop a plan for providing aid.
Consider the type of aid a charity provides. Charities will respond to the disaster in many ways, from providing immediate medical assistance to long-term rebuiling efforts. And some charities may be acting as middlemen only -- raising money to pass on to other groups. You need to decide what you want your contribution to accomplish and find a group providing that sort of aid. Charity Navigator provides links to the sites of groups providing relief in Japan so you can find out more about their efforts.
Designate your donation. Let the organization know that you want your contribution to be used for disaster relief in Japan. But be aware that your donation likely will not be used solely for assisting victims because some of the money may be used for the charity's administrative costs.
Reconsider texting your donation. Using your phone to text a donation can be a fast and easy way to give. But you may have to pay service fees to donate this way, and it can take up to 90 days for the charity to receive your donation, according to Charity Navigator.
See our checklist for more ways to make sure your giving gets the results you want.
-
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Taxes on Social Security Benefits?Quiz Social Security benefits often come with confusing IRS tax rules that can trip up financially savvy retirees and near-retirees.
-
Are You Ready for 65? The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period QuizQuiz Turning 65 soon? Test your basic knowledge of Medicare's Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) rules in our quick quiz.
-
3 Ways to Stretch the 2026 Social Security COLA For Your BudgetThree steps retirees can take to stretch the Social Security COLA to fit their budgets.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
How to Appeal an Unexpected Medical Billhealth insurance You may receive a bill because your insurance company denied a claim—but that doesn’t mean you have to pay it.
-
Amazon Prime Fees Are Rising. Here’s How to Cancel Your Amazon Prime MembershipFeature Amazon Prime will soon cost $139 a year, $180 for those who pay monthly. If you’re a subscriber, maybe it’s time to rethink your relationship. Here’s a step-by-step guide to canceling Prime.
-
How to Haggle for Almost AnythingSmart Buying Learning how to haggle is an invaluable skill. These strategies will help you negotiate a better price for just about any product or service.
-
Disability Insurance Can Provide COVID CoverageCoronavirus and Your Money If you are concerned about long-term complications from COVID-19, consider disability insurance coverage.
-
21 Things You Can't Return to Amazon — Either Online or In-StoreDid you know there are things you can't return to Amazon? Before adding these 21 items to your cart, be sure to read Amazon's return policy first.
-
How to Avoid a Charity Scampersonal finance Scammers never quit, even when you're trying to be altruistic. But you can avoid getting duped if you do your homework.
