The Better Business Bureau, the state Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and Washington’s Secretary of State Charities Program has offered these tips for anyone who wants to make a donation to nonprofits assisting in the recovery efforts for the Oso mudslide:
Be suspicious of solicitors requesting immediate donations. Don’t rush decisions and consider contributing at give.org, a website run by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
Make sure that charities are qualified to provide the type of disaster relief that is necessary.
Avoid cash donations. Write a check directly to the charity, not the fundraiser.
Never give out credit card numbers over the phone.
Be wary of “new” charities with unverifiable background information.
Watch out for solicitations from fake “victim” or memorial social media accounts.
Don’t be fooled by a name. Be watchful of charities that use sympathetic sounding names or names similar to well-known legitimate charities.
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