Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
The escalating conflict in Ukraine is hitting home for many Northeast Ohio residents who have close ties to the eastern European country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Cleveland has one of the highest populations of Ukrainian immigrants and descendants in the country. And in 2009, Parma officially recognized its long-standing settlement of Ukrainians, giving them a “village” of their own. Understandably, local residents’ concerns are growing as the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolds. Generous donors may want to help by supporting charities that are raising funds for assistance and emergency relief.
Better Business Bureau® certainly encourages generosity to help the people in Ukraine but cautions donors to avoid questionable appeals by keeping the following tips in mind:
- Does the relief charity meet BBB Charity Standards? You can verify a charity’s
trustworthiness by viewing an evaluative report completed by BBB Wise Giving Alliance at Give.org. - Can the charity get to the impacted area? Not all relief organizations will be positioned to provide relief quickly. See if the charity already has a presence in Ukraine or nearby countries.
- Should you send clothing and food? Local drives to collect clothing and food to send overseas may not be practical. Logistics and timing to deliver and disperse such items will be challenging.
- Is the charity experienced in providing emergency relief? Experienced disaster relief charities are the best choice to help deliver aid as soon as possible. Newer charities may have difficulty in following through, even if they have the best of intentions.
- Are you considering crowdfunding appeals? If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you know and trust and review the platform’s policies regarding fees and distribution of collected funds. If the crowdfunding request is from a charity, check out the group by visiting Give.org. Keep in mind that some crowdfunding sites do very little vetting of individuals or organizations that decide to post for relief assistance. Sites that take security measures will usually provide descriptions of these procedures.
- Does the appeal make exaggerated financial claims? All charities have fundraising and administrative expenses. Any charity claiming that “100% will be spent on relief” is potentially misleading the donating public. Even a credit card donation will have a processing fee.
For a list of BBB Accredited Charities currently raising funds for assistance efforts in Ukraine or preparing for needs that could arise if conflict results in population displacement, visit Give.org.
If individuals have spotted a scam (whether or not they’ve lost money), they can report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Additional Questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.413.5232 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? For more news and tips, visit BBB.org.
Photo courtesy pexels.com.
