There are scammers out there who use tragedy to exploit generous citizens. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller reminds us to beware of those who may take advantage of Iowans planning to donate to Oklahoma tornado relief efforts.
Keep these tips in mind before donating to a disaster relief fund:
• Donate to familiar charities.
• Do not respond to unsolicited calls, e-mails or social networking posts requesting contributions.
• Do your homework by checking on the charity.
• Pay by check or credit card on a secure website, which will help you keep records for security and tax purposes.
For more information or to file a complaint, contact Iowa’s Consumer Protection Division at 515-281-5926 or go to www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov.