As the horror of the magnitude of suffering continues to unfold in Haiti the call for donations to help continues. As you consider your donation options, make sure you know where your money is going and that it is being directed to efforts in Haiti.
Unfortunately, online and telephone phishing scams will proliferate. Here’s an article from SmartMoney with tips on how to give during this crisis.
The article recommends:
* Stick with established groups.
* Assess the charity’s plans – how will your donation be used; what’s the charity’s history of the amount of a donation that goes toward administration and toward relief.
* Designate your gift – if you want your donation to be used specifically for Haiti relief efforts, say so.
* Write a check rather than use plastic – less of your donation will be eaten up by fees. If you are texting a donation, the transaction fee may be waived. Find out.
* Watch out for phishing scams – make sure the site you are at is the “official site”. If you get a call, don’t provide your credit card number. Your best bet is to ask where you can send a donation by mail or call them directly to make sure you are reaching the official charity.
The U.S. Better Business Bureau runs this website where you can check whether the group you are thinking of donating to is legitimate.
A list of groups and links from Google.
