“After every natural disaster and manmade catastrophe, we see an outpouring of generosity, along with the inevitable scams and frauds,” said Art Taylor, president and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. “We urge donors to take the time to make sure their donations are going to legitimate charities that can do the most good for those in need.”

“BBB Oklahoma City is so grateful for the immediate response from people all across the country,” said Kitt Letcher, the brand new president and CEO of BBB of Central Oklahoma, who started in the position just yesterday. “We will be keeping a close eye on the situation in order to prevent, as much as possible, scams related to charity relief, as well as restoration and rebuilding services.”

BBB Wise Giving Alliance is offering the following tips to help donors decide where to direct donations to assist victims:

Be cautious when giving online. Be cautious about online giving, especially in response to unsolicited spam messages, and emails and social media posts that claim to link to a relief organization. If you want to give to a charity involved in relief efforts, go directly to the charity’s website. In response to hurricanes Katrina and, Rita, and the Asian tsunamis, the FBI and others raised concerns about websites and new organizations that were created overnight, allegedly to help victims.

Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other websites, as they may not have fully researched the relief organizations they list. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities and relief organizations and verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims. Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fund raising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting disaster victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fund raising and administrative expenses. It may use some of its other funds to pay these costs, but the expenses will still be incurred.

Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless the charity already has staff in the affected areas, it may be difficult to bring in new aid workers to provide assistance quickly. See if the charity’s website clearly describes what the charity can do to address immediate needs.

Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups. Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to those that have a presence in the region. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to see whether they are equipped to provide aid effectively.

Gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations. In-kind drives for food and clothing, while well intentioned, may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need – unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to distribute such aid properly. Ask the charity about its transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance.

For more information, visit give.org or call 800-649-6814.

BBB investigators have determined that the addresses the firm claims to have in Omaha are phony. Consumer complaints received by BBB reveal that Omaha Travel’s actual delivery of services is highly questionable and refunds requested by consumers have not been paid. The company has failed to respond to BBB's request to identify its location, and they have refused to explain why they are falsely claiming to be a BBB Accredited Business.

The BBB reported customer complaints and its findings to the company at the email address the company uses in soliciting business by sending faxes to employers presenting attractive travel offers and directing consumers to its web site at omaha-travel.com. In response to the BBB, the company blamed consumers for failing to follow its procedures, offered no refunds, and refused to identify the operators of the business.

The BBB urges consumers to avoid the risk of doing business online when a physical address cannot be verified – and to report complaints about Omaha Travel to the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org - where unresolved complaints will be reported to federal law enforcement authorities.

“According to BBB’s experience with travel offers, some bogus promoters have been known to take consumers' money, without providing the travel or trip that was promised. Others advertise rock-bottom prices, but hide certain fees until the deal is sealed. Some promise luxurious accommodations and services, but deliver far less while some don't reveal that the deal includes an obligation to sit through a timeshare pitch at the destination. Finally, there are promoters who guarantee consumers that they can get a full refund if they decide to cancel the trip, but fail to make good on their promise,” stated BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty.

If you are tempted to respond to a travel solicitation, the BBB recommends that you look for the following:

1. Heavily discounted offers - If the offer is significantly lower than the regular price of travel and sounds “too good to be true” it probably is. Be sure to shop around to evaluate prices from several companies.

2. Policy changes - A company that will not accept credit card payments is preventing your best avenue of recourse should the company not fulfill their obligations; forcing you to pay by cash, debit card, check or wire transfer instead virtually eliminates your chances of canceling the transaction or obtaining a refund.

3. "One call, one chance" - On the initial phone call, some high-pressure sales companies will put a deadline on their offer to try and get you to commit on the spot, saying that the offer will expire if you do not buy right away.

4. Hidden costs - Does a “bargain” travel package include all costs associated with the trip, i.e., ground transportation, lodging, meals, port fees, taxes, peak season price increases, and gratuities?

5. False bookings - Before traveling, confirm all arrangements yourself with the airline, cruise line, and/or hotel. Even though you have paid for the trip in full, it’s possible that your actual reservations don’t exist.

6. Use the BBB - Check with the BBB first at bbb.org before signing a contract or making a payment. A company’s Business Review will show their BBB grade, complaint history and contact information.

BBB Military Line, the military arm of the Better Business Bureau, provides free resources, such as financial literacy information, access to BBB services and scam alerts, and complaint and dispute resolution for all branches of the U.S. military. BBB warns of the following scams that are directed at service members:

High priced military loans - Advertisements for loans that promise a guarantee, instant approval or no credit check will often come with hidden fees and extremely high interest rates. Remember that legitimate lenders will never guarantee a loan before you apply and loans that require an upfront fee are likely a scam.

Veterans’ benefits buyout plans - This buyout plan will offer a cash payment in exchange for a disabled veteran’s future benefits or pension payments. The cash amount is only about 30-40% of what the veteran is entitled to. These buyout plans can be structured in several different ways, so research thoroughly before signing anything over.

Fake rental properties - Stolen photos of legitimate rental properties are used in advertisements that promise military discounts and other incentives. Service members will have to pay a fee via wire transfer for security payments or a key to the property – in the end they will receive nothing.

Phony jury duty summons - A caller clams to work for the local court system and states that the service member did not show up for jury duty and now has a warrant out for their arrest. When the victim says they never got a summons, the caller will ask for a credit card number or Social Security number to clear up the matter.

Misleading car sales – Websites posting classified ads will offer false discounts for military personnel or claim to be from soldiers who need to sell their vehicle fast since they have been deployed. Upfront fees will be required via wire transfer, or the vehicle will have problems after purchase.

Expensive life insurance policies – Members of the military are often the targets of high pressured sales pitches that offer unnecessary, expensive life insurance policies. Solicitors may make false statements regarding the benefits that these policies offer.

BBB recommends the following tips to avoid scams:

Do your research. Get as much information as you can about a business or charity before you pay. Check out a business’ BBB Business Review at bbb.org or a charity’s Charity Report at give.org.

Don’t wire transfer money to anyone you don’t know. Money sent via wire transfer is practically impossible to track. Pay by credit card whenever possible, since you can dispute charges easily.

Protect your computer. Don’t click on links within unsolicited emails. Don’t enter personal information on unfamiliar websites. Make sure that you have updated anti-virus software installed and use a firewall at all times.

Put an Active Duty alert on your credit reports when deployed. Doing so will minimize the risk of identity theft because creditors and businesses cannot issue or grant credit until verifying identity.

For more tips you can trust, visit bbb.org and for the latest, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/bbb1936 and facebook.com/Militaryline.

“A tragedy of this nature that is the focus of high profile media attention inspires people to give,” says David Weiss, president and CEO of BBB of Greater Cleveland, “but, unfortunately, also catches the attention of scammers who try to take advantage of well-meaning generosity.”

BBB Wise Giving Alliance has seen charity scams following all recent natural disasters and manmade tragedies, and encourages donors to balance their generosity with thoughtfulness and research. “Try to avoid making emotional giving decisions,” says H. Art Taylor, President and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, “The first request for a donation may not be the best choice. Check with the BBB to help avoid questionable fundraising efforts.”

BBB also reminds consumers that donations made through crowdfunding websites are usually considered gifts to the recipients and are not tax deductible unless the group receiving the funds is a 501(c)(3) organization as designated by the Internal Revenue Service.

BBB urges consumers to make wise choices with their donations:

Respond thoughtfully. Take the time to check out the charity to avoid wasting your generosity by donating to a questionable or poorly managed effort. The first request for a donation may not be the best choice. Be proactive and find trusted charities that are providing assistance.

Respect the victims and their families. Organizations raising funds should get permission from the families to use either the names of the victims and/or any photographs of them. Some charities raising funds for the Colorado movie theater and Newtown school victims did not do this and were the subject of criticism from victims’ families.

Registration confirmation. About 40 of the 50 states require charities to register with a state government agency (usually a division of the State Attorney General’s office) before they solicit for charitable gifts. If the charity is not registered, that may be a significant red flag. For example, Ohio requires charities to register with the Office of the Attorney General before they solicit for charitable gifts.

Results should be shared. After funds are raised for a tragedy, it is even more important for organizations to provide an accounting of how funds were spent. Transparent organizations will post this information on their websites so that anyone can find out and not have to wait until the audited financial statements are available sometime in the future.

Retail sale disclosures. If any items are being sold (such as t-shirts, etc.) in the context that their sales will benefit the victims, look for a disclosure that states the actual or anticipated amount of the purchase that will benefit the a specified charity and, if applicable, any minimums or maximums being raised (e.g. up to $100,000) as well as campaign term limits (e.g. during the month of May).

Remember Online Giving Cautions. Never click on links to charities on unfamiliar websites or in texts or emails. These may take you to a lookalike website where you will be asked to provide personal financial information or to click on something that downloads harmful malware into your computer. Don’t assume that charity recommendations on Facebook, blogs or other social media have already been vetted. Also, websites that enable individuals to raise funds (known as crowd funding sites) can be established very quickly but may not have oversight procedures in place to ensure that funds will be used as promised (for example, establishing a CPA, bank or other respected third party to receive collected donations and help distribute funds to victims).

Review BBB Charity Reports. Find out if the subject charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Visit give.org for reports on nationally soliciting charities and bbb.org for information on regionally soliciting organizations. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

The Cleveland Foundation has set up the Cleveland Courage Fund for the victims. The organization is a community foundation that has been supporting various Cleveland area projects since 1914.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance is asking anyone who receives a suspicious charitable solicitation to report it to BBB Report a Scam.

ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: BBB Wise Giving Alliance produces reports on over 1,200 nationally soliciting charitable organizations, and local BBBs report on another 10,000 local and regional charities. BBB Wise Giving Alliance does not rank charities but rather seeks to assist donors in making informed judgments by providing objective evaluations of national charities based on 20 standards that address charity governance, finances, fund raising, appeal accuracy, and other issues. The outcomes of the evaluations are available online at give.org. BBB Wise Giving Alliance is an affiliate of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

One senior citizen from David City, NE reported that she received such a call. She was told they were having trouble delivering it. The consumer told the caller that she had not ordered this product and that no one purchased a medical alert for her. The caller tried to convince her that “someone bought it for you” and he needed more information on her location. Her “Caller ID” showed that the call came from 402-785-8114 in Davey, Nebraska.

BBB research on the phone number indicates the call came by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) - a telephone call made over an IP network. The first call placed back to this Nebraska number by a BBB staff person, posing as an interested consumer, had an extended automated message explaining why a medical alert is needed.

The second call made by the BBB was answered by a person with an accent who said there was a fee of $34.95 for the alarm necklace. When told that she would like to know more about the device, the staff person was transferred to another man who also had an accent. BBB was told that the company he represented was called “Senior Medical Alarm” which is located in “upstate New York.” When asked for the brand name of the equipment he said, “Bosch.” Upon inquiring how to spell “Bosch”, the representative became belligerent and replied, “Everyone knows how to spell ‘Bosch’,” and hung up.

“These kinds of calls are very suspicious due to the secretive nature and lack of full disclosure to their real purpose,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “Remember to never give out any of your personal information over the phone, regardless of what they say it’s for.”

Consumers who receive these calls regarding a medical alert system can report the call to the BBB at 800-649-6814, 800-856-2417, (KS only), BBB’s toll free Senior Line at 877-637-3334 or to your state’s Attorney General.

For more information on the latest scams, news and community events visit the BBB's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bbb1936.

Check back tomorrow for Daily Tip 5 of National Consumer Protection Week!

BBB has these tips for protecting your personal devices:

Computer:

Lock your phone. Add a security code to your phone to prevent thieves from accessing your data. Then set your device to lock automatically when not in use for a specified time.

Update your operating system. Regularly updating your phone closes security loopholes and other back doors hackers can use to access your phone without your knowledge.

Beware of unknown apps and links. Do not download any apps or click on links in your email or social media pages without first researching the source. They may contain viruses, malware or spyware that can compromise your personal data.

Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi. If you choose to connect to an unsecured or public Wi-Fi network, do not enter passwords or access any personal data.

Check your permissions. Check all of your apps to see what data they are accessing and revoke permissions for information those apps don’t need to properly operate.

Delete “smishing” texts. Like “phishing,” “smishing” schemers often pose as banks or lottery sweepstakes asking customers to contact them immediately about a pressing issue that needs to be discussed. Do not reply and erase the message immediately.

Erase old phones completely. If you’re selling, donating or recycling your old phone, ensure all your data is completely erased and the phone is returned to factory settings before letting it out of your possession.

Smartphones:

Lock your phone. Add a security code to your phone to prevent thieves from accessing your data. Then set your device to lock automatically when not in use for a specified time.

Update your operating system. Regularly updating your phone closes security loopholes and other back doors hackers can use to access your phone without your knowledge.

Beware of unknown apps and links. Do not download any apps or click on links in your email or social media pages without first researching the source. They may contain viruses, malware or spyware that can compromise your personal data.

Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi. If you choose to connect to an unsecured or public Wi-Fi network, do not enter passwords or access any personal data.

Check your permissions. Check all of your apps to see what data they are accessing and revoke permissions for information those apps don’t need to properly operate.

Delete “smishing” texts. Like “phishing,” “smishing” schemers often pose as banks or lottery sweepstakes asking customers to contact them immediately about a pressing issue that needs to be discussed. Do not reply and erase the message immediately.

Erase old phones completely. If you’re selling, donating or recycling your old phone, ensure all your data is completely erased and the phone is returned to factory settings before letting it out of your possession.

For more information on the latest scams and consumer protection information checkout the BBB’s Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Searching for coupons online is an easy way to save money. Unfortunately, it's also an easy way to inadvertently give your name and contact information to scammers.

An online search for coupons will return a wealth of websites. Most online coupons promise a modest 10%-15% discount. However, if any offers a significantly better deal, such as 50% off your purchase, beware.

Here is how scam coupon sites work: websites illegally use the logo of a business and ask you to enter your email address and telephone number, with the promise that your coupon will be sent to you.

Once you complete the form, you may be taken to a promotion for an unrelated (and untrustworthy) product. It could be anything from car loans to pharmaceuticals. Other scam sites provide fake coupons to print, meaning that you won't know you were scammed until the store clerk rejects your coupon.

This "bait and switch" is a way for unscrupulous businesses to collect names and contact information for resale. Once that happens, you will start receiving spam calls, text messages and/or emails through the contact information you provided. While it is easy to copy a business' logo and make a fake coupon look real, you can identify fake coupons by looking for any one of several warning signs:

It's the only website with that great deal - If most websites offer a code for 10% off, a 75% off offer is likely a scam.

Be wary of all high value offers - A promotion for a $500 gift card is nearly always fake.

Look for legal language and expiration dates - Online coupons must match manufacturers’ requirements.

You are asked to pay - Don't be tricked into paying for something that should be free.

Watch out for "bait and switch" tactics - This scam offers you online coupon codes, and once you agree, requires you fill in a form with personal information.

Check to see if the coupon is being offered directly by the store or by a third party - If it’s from a third party, a store may ask for more information or require that the consumer sign up for additional services to redeem the coupon. If so, BBB recommends using extreme caution before divulging any personal information.

Be wary of pop-up ad coupon offers that require you to click immediately to redeem the offer - Clicking on the ad may automatically sign you up for services you are not interested in receiving. In some cases, you may be billed every month for unwanted services.

Carefully read the terms and conditions for each coupon - Check the expiration date, limitations of use and whether it is good only for online purchases or can be redeemed at a store as well. Online coupons need to match manufacturer requirements.

Don’t fall for phony coupons sent via e-mail - Just because it may come from a friend or family member, don’t assume a coupon is legitimate.

Because some stores are concerned about fraud related to online coupons, not all businesses are eager to redeem them. BBB recommends contacting stores to determine their policy for online coupons. Show them coupons before you try to redeem them.

Be extremely cautious if the coupon requires that you call the company to redeem the coupon or requires you to divulge personal information.

If you suspect that a coupon is fake, check it against this list. The non-profit Coupon Information Center maintains a list of companies whose names have been used by criminals who offer fraudulent coupons. When in doubt, contact the company directly to determine the legitimacy of a coupon or rebate certificate.

For more information on the latest scams visit the BBB’s Facebook page or Twitter Feed!

How the Scam Works: You reply to a help wanted ad for a modeling, acting or promotional gig. After you send your resume and/or introductory message, you start getting emails from an "agent" who tells you that you've gotten the job.

Starting your new gig is easy, according to the emails. Your agent mails you a check that supposedly covers your hourly fee and expenses, such as transportation and meals. You only need to deduct $350 "to confirm your bookings with the production acoounlnt" and wire the money ASAP to the name and address provided.

The fake checks come in envelopes marked with the BBB name and address

In a twist, scammers are using phony shipping labels to mail the checks. Job seekers report receiving envelopes that have Better Business Bureau's name and return address on them. Scammers are using the BBB name (and likely name of other established organizations) to lend credibility to their con.

If you follow the email's instructions and deposit the check, the full amount will appear to be in your bank account immediately. However, it takes several days for the check to completely clear. When the bank sees the check is a fraud, they will deduct the money from your account. If you wired the money to the "production accountant," you will be out the $350. How to Spot a Fake Job Ad:

Job postings and reply emails with a lot of grammatical errors and misspellings are likely scams. The typo "production acoounlnt" above is a classic example.

Ads containing the phrases "Immediate Start" and "No Experience Needed" are popular in scam ads. If a job looks suspicious, search for it in Google. If the result comes up in many other cities with the exact same job post, it is likely a scam.

Be very cautious of any job that asks you to share personal information or hand over money. Scammers will often use the guise of running a credit check, setting up direct deposit or paying for training.

Check out the business's website to make sure the opening is posted there. If you are still skeptical, call the business to check on the position.

For More Information See BBB's information pages, for more tips about avoiding check cashing and employment scams. To find out more about scams, check out the new BBB Scam Stopper.

BBB advises taxpayers to be extra cautious when choosing a tax preparer, since that person or company will have access to lots of personal information. Here are some tips on finding a trustworthy tax preparer:

Ask around. Get referrals from friends and family and check out the service’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org.

Look for credentials. Ideally, your tax preparer should either be a certified public accountant, a tax attorney, an enrolled agent, and/or a certified E-file provider. Find out if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization that requires continuing education and has a code of ethics.

Make sure they are properly registered. In the U.S., a tax preparer must obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. In Canada, the representative must have a RepID (if they are representing you or your business) or a Business Number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Do not fall for the promise of big refunds. Be wary of any tax preparation service that promises larger refunds than the competition, and avoid tax preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the refund.

Read the contract carefully. Read tax preparation service contracts closely to ensure you understand how much it is going to cost for the service, and how the cost will be affected if preparation is more complicated and time consuming than expected.

Remember that a paid preparer is required by law to sign your return and fill in the preparer areas of the form. They should also include their appropriate identifying number on the return. In addition, the preparer must give you a copy of your return.

For more information on tax filing in the United States, go to the Internal Revenue Service. For more information on tax filing in Canada, go to the Canada Revenue Agency.

You’re not imagining it: The two-year reduction that decreased the payroll taxes you pay from 6.2% to 4.2% of your salary were allowed to expire at the beginning of the year, which means that a family with a household income of $50,000 will now have about $1,000 less to spend this year.

Read full article here