In the wake of the devastating tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma yesterday, and in north Texas last week, Better Business Bureau and BBB Wise Giving Alliance have issued tips to help donors make smart giving decisions and to avoid scams.

“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, CEO of BBB of Central Oklahoma. “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.

For donors who wish to give to a Southern Arizona charity. Tucson-based BBB Accredited Charity World Care is collecting emergency relief supplies for victims of the tornadoes.  Those who wish to donate items can take them to any of the Zanes Law or A Family Discount Storage locations in Tucson.  For a complete list of items being collected or to make a cash donation, donors can visit World Care’s website, www.worldcare.org.

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.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers to be on guard when it comes to high-pressure sales tactics over the next few months.

There are many businesses that go door-to-door selling everything from cosmetic products to magazine subscriptions. In 2012, BBB received over 1,700 complaints against door-to-door sales companies nationwide. Most complaints alleged products were paid for but never delivered, or refunds were not received upon cancellation.

During the summer months, BBB routinely receives an increase in complaints from consumers against businesses that employ aggressive door-to-door selling techniques. Some examples of high pressure sales tactics include hostile and persuasive rebuttals to consumer concerns, deep discounts offered upon immediate payment and refusal to take “no” for an answer.

While many businesses utilize door-to-door marketing tactics, BBB has these tips for consumers to consider when getting that knock on your door:

Door-to-door sales people are required to:

• Advise you orally and in writing of your right to cancel the sale within three days
• Provide a contract in the same language that was used in the sales presentation

The contract or receipt must:

• State the date of sale, name and address of the merchant
• Provide a statement of your right to cancel which includes the address of where to send your cancellation notice

To cancel a door-to-door sale:

• To obtain a full refund, you must do this before midnight of the third business day after the sale

Don’t be pressured to take advantage of a time-sensitive offer. Take time to decide whether you’re sure you want the product.

Short-term home rentals are soaring in popularity amongst homeowners and out-of-towners. As the summer music festivals approach, and with the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays just around the corner, many homeowners may choose to offer their home as a short-term rental.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona has these helpful and important tips to follow if you’re planning to rent out your home.

• Decide who will manage the property. If you decide to manage the property yourself, make sure you live close enough and are capable of handling any emergency issues that arise. If you don’t live close, make sure you know someone who can help take care of your property and address any issues a guest may have.

• If you decide to use a management company, research the organization first at bbb.org. Get all fees involved with listing your property and booking your rental in writing. Request detailed descriptions, in writing, of all the additional services to be provided and how and when you can expect to receive payment. Also, consider whether or not the company has its own insurance policy to cover any damages caused by the tenant.

• Write up a contract. BBB advises having an attorney go over the details of the contract. The contract should include:

1. Check in and checkout times
2. Whether smoking or pets are permitted
3. Details of any security or damage deposits, whether they are refundable and under what circumstances
4. A cancellation and rate change policy
5. The maximum occupancy and any fees associated with exceeding the limit
6. Parking restrictions
7. The renter’s contact information

• Check state and city law. Various cities and states have their own rental and property laws. Check your city’s law on short-term rentals to make sure you’re not in violation.

• Research renters. Get the appropriate contact information for renters and check them out. Consider a Google search or use an online screening service.

• Check your insurance coverage. Ensure you have enough property or casualty insurance should anything go wrong. Also consider the costs of lost, stolen or damaged items and ensure your security deposit covers all the “what-ifs.”

• Consult your rental agreement. If you rent your home or apartment, your contract could prohibit subletting. Be sure to check with your landlord or HOA about short-term visitors.

For potential home renters, BBB warns to be on the lookout for phony ads on classified sites and other internet sources aimed at cheating consumers. In the past, scammers have copied property information and pictures, creating fake listings. They will accept all forms of payments to appear legitimate only to have the consumer find out the home was not for rent and their up-front payment is gone. Use reliable rental websites, with more safeguards in place, rather than free-listing classified websites.