Check for legitimate charities
By Michelle Singletary
The Indian Ocean tsunami has claimed more than 150,000 lives so far. The United Nations has said this is the largest natural disaster it has faced in its 60-year existence.
If you haven't already given, I would like to encourage you to help the millions of people who are in need. If you want to give but you're not sure which organization to give to, start with a list compiled by the U.S. Agency for International Development. It can be found online at www.usaid.gov.
You might also contact the Center for International Disaster Information at (703) 276-1914 or at www.cidi.org.
USAID warns that many nonregistered, unofficial "relief agencies" begin collecting cash donations they claim are used for disaster victims, but aren't.
The FBI and local and state law enforcement agencies have already begun to issue alerts about relief aid fraud.
The FBI reports that there are Web sites that pretend to represent legitimate relief organizations. One of these sites will infect your computer with a virus if accessed.
People have also begun to receive unsolicited e-mails requesting that money be deposited in overseas banks to support relief efforts. Others offer, for a fee, to locate loved ones who may have been a disaster victim. If you have received such e-mails, forward them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3 .gov.
Before you give, follow these tips offered by the FBI, BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www .give.org), the Association of Fundraising Professionals, USAID and other law enforcement offices:
• When contributing, give the organization a check or money order made out to the name of the charitable organization, not to an individual.
• Be wary of telemarketing calls asking for donations. Ask what percentage of donations go directly to help victims. Typically, a majority of the money raised is paid to the telemarketers and only a small portion actually goes to the charity. Send your donations directly to the charity instead.
• If you decide to contribute online, find out more about the charity. For example, some charities imitate the name and style of a well-known organization.
• If you give online, look at the organization's URL in the browser window. Exercise caution if the domain name is hidden, is not familiar to you, or is not the same as the one stated in the text of the link.
• Even if you get a call from what seems to be a legitimate charity, don't just give on the spot. Instead, independently obtain the charity's telephone number and call in your donation. That will assure you are dealing with the real group.
• If want to make sure your donation is tax deductible, it should be given to a U.S.-based charitable organization that is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Go to IRS Publication 78 on www.irs.gov for a current list of all organizations eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable gifts. And if you make a donation by Jan. 31 you will be able to claim a deduction on your 2004 tax return under legislation passed by Congress Jan. 6. The bill has been sent to President Bush for his signature.
Most important, give when you can.
Michelle Singletary writes for the Washington Post.
