BBB: Be cautious when donating to Nepal earthquake relief charities

The Better Business Bureau is warning people to be cautious of scams when donating to disaster relief organizations that aid the victims of the massive earthquake in Nepal that killed more than 3,600 over the weekend.

The group advises giving to charities that are experienced at working with disaster victims to avoid “unscrupulous people who will attempt to take advantage of your generosity.”

“In the face of any disaster, people will immediately make donations to help the victims,” Tom Bartholomy, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont in Charlotte, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, scammers will also try to take advantage of generous donors.”

Following disasters, look-alike and sound-alike charities appear on the Internet, the group said, so donors should look out for fake charities that imitate the names of well-known organizations. Donors should also be wary of emotional appeals that don’t detail how the charity will provide aid to victims.

The Better Business Bureau advises giving to tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charities to ensure donations are tax deductible.

Donors also shouldn’t send cash or money via wire transfer, the bureau said, nor give their credit card numbers or other personal information to a telephone solicitor or in response to an email solicitation.

The business group’s website provides detailed reports on relief organizations for those interested in seeing if the charity meets the standards for charitable giving.

The earthquake near Mount Everest had a magnitude of 7.8 and authorities say the death toll is expected to rise. Time also outlined secure ways people can provide financial support to help rebuild Nepal, an impoverished country.

This story was originally published April 27, 2015 at 9:11 AM with the headline "BBB: Be cautious when donating to Nepal earthquake relief charities."