| Better Business
Bureau
BBB Cautions Donors on Hurricane Relief Appeals
September
1 , 2005 -- Vancouver - Hurricane Katrina, like all natural
disasters, is prompting some people to take advantage of
our eagerness to assist victims, reports the Better Business
Bureau of Mainland BC. Donors should be especially
alert to these typical post-disaster situations, the Bureau
warns:
- Spam or email
messages asking for a contribution may be used in a "phishing"
scam where the messages link to a "false" website
that looks like the website of an established relief charity.
This could be a ruse for obtaining credit card or other
personal information.
- New charities
spring up virtually overnight, promising aid to victims.
These groups may have good intentions but lack the means
and experience to deliver aid quickly to those in need.
"The
BBB encourages the public to contribute to helpful causes
that will assist the families and victims of this hurricane
catastrophe," states Sheila Charneski, President of the
BBB. "Donors should make certain, however, that
the charity is properly registered with appropriate government
agencies, that it describes exactly what it will do to address
the needs of victims, and that it is willing to provide written
information about its finances and programs."
"Donors
can contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-267-2384 to
confirm a charity is registered or go to the website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/charities,
" Charneski notes.
In
addition, the Canadian Red Cross has appealed for cash donations
for the "Hurricane Katrina" disaster and British
Columbians can read about the appeal on the Red Cross website
at www.redcross.ca where
there are links to enable the public to facilitate their donations.
If
you are unable to contribute at this time, relief charities
will welcome your donation next week and next month.
Organizations will be addressing a variety of relief activities
in the weeks to come, as the needs of relief victims change.
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