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Wildfire relief sparks a wave of warnings | Better Business Bureau

Published 1:50 pm Monday, July 6, 2015

As firefighters work to contain the Sleepy Hollow Fire in Wenatchee, Better Business Bureau along with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Secretary of State Kim Wyman warn of scams and complaints that circulate when natural disasters strike.

“We really appreciate that people always have an instinct to help those in need during natural disasters like this,” Wyman said. “At the same time, donors need to use some caution and do a little homework before sending their hard-earned money. History tells us that after disasters such as these wildfires, there are always some unscrupulous so-called charities that take advantage of the situation and fleece well-meaning donors.”

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families and rescue workers involved with these fires,” says Tyler Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska Oregon and Western Washington. “Too many times we hear horror stories of con artists targeting Washingtonians and their families during a time of need. We join with Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Secretary of State Kim Wyman in fighting off these scams and keeping consumers safe.”

While BBB, the Attorney General’s Office and the Secretary of Statesympathize with the victims and their loved ones during this tragic time, all three organizations urge donors to give wisely. Keep in mind con artists impersonate legitimate entities using materials with borrowed names and logos. Hold back from charitable solicitors that:

  • Demand donations using threats, aggressive tactics or deadlines.
  • Only accept cash donations or checks made out to them personally.
  • Can’t explain what kind of relief will be offered, how it will be distributed, who will benefit, when it will be allocated and what percentage of donations benefit causes.

Officials warn of Cybercriminals who target those looking for news updates and wanting to help. While online, be wary of:

  • Search engine results from unknown or untrustworthy websites.
  • Unsolicited emails, instant messages and social media posts from unknown senders.
  • Videos or news stories with unusual or shocking headlines.

Protect computers, click carefully and guard personal data. Ensure that anti-virus software, security patches and firewalls are installed, active and up-to-date.

Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General’s Office and the Secretary of State advise consumers to contact potential charities directly.

For more information on finding charities, visit the Secretary of State’s “Information for Donors” page or call 1-800-332-4483. Valuable information can be found online at Give.org, a website run by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. Consumers can also look to the Sectary of State’s website for tips on giving wisely.

If a consumer feels he has been the victim of a scam, he is urged to file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office and report his experience on BBB’s Scam Tracker.

 

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