Watch out for scammers when you donate to help tornado victims

Devastating tornadoes in Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri have put thousands of people in need.

If you’re looking for ways to help, make sure that scammers don’t trick you into wasting your money and good intentions.

Do research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization that will use the money as promised, recommends Colleen Tressler, consumer education specialist for the Federal Trade Commission.

Tressler offers these tips:

• Donate to charities you know and trust with a proven track record with dealing with disasters.
• Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection the tornado disasters. Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.
• Designate the disaster so you can ensure your funds are going to disaster relief, rather than a general fund that the charity could use for any of its work.
• Never click on links or open attachments in e-mails unless you know who sent it if you get donation requests by email. You could unknowingly install malware on your computer.
• Don’t assume that charity messages posted on social media are legitimate. Check out the organization yourself.
• Confirm the number when texting to donate with the source before you donate. The charge will show up on your mobile phone bill, but donations aren’t immediate.
• Find out if the charity or fundraiser needs to register in your state by contacting the National Association of State Charity Officials. If they should be registered, but aren’t, consider donating to another charity.

For more information, go to ftc.gov/charity.