'Tis the season for giving. Many folks are searching for the right charity to donate to this time of the year.
The Better Business Bureau has some good advise so you don't get scammed.
There are so many reasons you might want to make a donation.
The BBB says tragedies like wildfires and hurricanes bring out scammers looking to take advantage of these moments of vulnerability.
"People give with their heart and that's great," said Susan Bach, the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Director of the Better Business Bureau. "Use your head first."
The first thing you should do is make sure your donation is going to a reputable charity.
A sure way to know is by checking with the BBB's Wise Giving Alliance.
"We have 20 standards of charity accountability that we review charities for," said Bach.
Make sure the charity doesn't claim 100% of donations will be used for the cause. Every charity has overhead so this should be a red flag.
It's also best to make sure you're donating to a well established charity with a good track record.
Keep a record of all donations especially if you want to claim it as a charitable donation on your tax returns. You'll want to keep your receipt.
"Using your credit card or texting a donation is very quick and easy," said Bach. "You'll want to make sure that you reconcile your credit card statement to make sure that the donation that you donated actually matches up with what you gave."
If you give to a crowd funding site, make sure there is a clear connection with the family. Donations to crowd funding sites are likely not tax deductible.
For more tips from the BBB on donating safely, click here.
