Haiti Disaster Relief – Beware the Scams!

Unfortunately, there seems to be a recurring theme in life.  And that theme can perhaps best be put this way:  For every decent, moral and compassionate human on the planet, there are others scheming to take their money.

There really are people who feel it is their right to put decency, morals and compassion on hold for their own gain.

Lots of them.

This is especially true in times of need.

The horrendous disaster that struck Haiti is on a massive scale seldom seen in our lifetimes.  The need is so great it brings many of us to tears.

And for that reason, you need to be very vigilant about where you send your donations.

Send your donations, absolutely!

But be aware that almost overnight dozens of phony Haiti relief charities have sprung up.  That’s right.  People with soul so bare that they take money from disaster victims.

Shame on you.

But shame as well on many of us for falling for the ‘quick way to do it’.

Social media, blogs, Facebook and other sites are now full of pleas for help, asking you to send money.

Here’s what seems a prudent suggestion – send money to organizations you already know are legitimate.

Yes, that’s probably an oversimplification on my part.  But you know the Red Cross.  And Oxfam.  And UNICEF.  And many  other legitimate aid organizations with familiar names.

Perhaps the best way to avoid helping criminals and making sure your money gets to the victims is in the wisdom of the Better Business Bureau website:

1. Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other Web sites, as they might not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities and relief organizations to verify that they are accredited by BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
2. Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims. Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fundraising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting earthquake victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fundraising and administrative expenses. They may use some of their other funds to pay this, but the expenses will still be incurred.
3. Be cautious when giving online. Be cautious about online giving, especially in response to spam messages and e-mails that claim to link to a relief organization. In response to the tsunami disaster in 2004, there were concerns raised about many Web sites and new organizations that were created overnight allegedly to help victims.
4. Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless the charity already has staff in the effected areas, it may be difficult to get new aid workers to quickly provide assistance. See if the charity’s Web site clearly describes what they can do to address immediate needs.
5. Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups. Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to charities that have a presence in the region. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to ensure the organizations are equipped to effectively provide aid.
6. Ask before giving gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations.In-kind drives for food and clothing-while well intentioned-may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need, unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to be able to properly distribute such aid. Ask the charity about their transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance.

And just so you know, my money is going to the Red Cross.

(photo courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Marek/American Red Cross)