The Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to threaten the environmental and economic health of the Gulf Coast. In the wake of the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, a coordinated effort is underway to clean up the spill and provide aid to affected families. Your Better Business Bureau warns that the recovery effort creates a great opportunity for scammers to make an easy dollar by deceiving those who are trying to find work, file claims with BP or donate money or volunteer to help with the cleanup.

“It’s tragic that scammers are taking advantage of an already disastrous situation,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Unfortunately, history has shown that in the wake of a national disaster, scammers find a variety of ways to prey on the misfortune of others.”

Whether you’re looking for work or financial assistance or want to help out by donating money or volunteering your time, BBB recommends doing your research and avoiding the following scams:

The Job Scam: Several organizations including BP and BBB have reported on job scams in the wake of the oil spill. Most commonly, job hunters say they were told to pay an upfront fee to get a job or pay for training. BBB has also heard from people who were recruited for cleanup work by outfits that did not seem to have a contract with BP.

Jobs available directly with BP are posted on BP’s website. For jobs through the state, such as Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, you can visit the states’ job websites. If you have been recruited by a company that claims to have a contract with BP, research the business fully and try to confirm with BP that they are a legitimate employer for the oil spill clean up. BBB advises job hunters to be wary of companies that require applicants to pay an upfront fee.

The vast majority of jobs created will go to Gulf residents or industry specialists. Many of the jobs involved in the cleanup also require specific training or certifications, such as Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training. For most cleanup jobs, the employer will provide appropriate training for new employees.

The Claim Scam: Unsolicited e-mails claiming that the recipients qualify for compensation from BP are landing in inboxes.  Additionally, the FTC warns against phony adjusters who ask for fees to expedite services

BP is accepting claims from individuals and businesses for property damage, loss of income and bodily injury or illness. At this point it is unclear whether or not BP is accepting claims from vacationers who are seeking reimbursement for cancelled trips to the Gulf.

The toll-free BP claims line is 1-800-440-0858. The line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or you can file a claim online through BP’s website. Additionally, there are many claims offices along the Gulf Coast. More information is available through the Deepwater Horizon Response website and on BP’s website.

The Charity Scam: Following any major disaster, scammers will pose as charitable organizations and try to solicit donations from well-meaning individuals.

The oil spill is unlike previous disasters and constraints in the clean up effort limit what charities can do with your money or how you can volunteer.

While you can’t donate or volunteer to clean up oil, opportunities may include shoreline monitoring, fund raising, office work help in food programs for families in need and providing transportation. Numerous charities with volunteer programs ask that you register with them so that they can assess your skills and place you appropriately when openings arise. BBB Wise Giving Alliance has compiled a list of nationally soliciting charities which meet BBB standards that are asking for donations and volunteers for the Gulf effort.

How to Contact BP and Where to Report Fraud:

BP has set up phone numbers to address specific concerns surrounding the Oil Spill. You can find a contact list on their website.

BP has also set up a fraud hotline at 1-877-359-6281. Additionally, you can alert the FBI by calling (866) 720-5721 or via e-mail disaster@leo.gov. Also contact your local BBB so we can help get the word out and warn other people.

For more advice on finding a job, funding your business or donating to a charity, visit http://www.bbb.org/us/Consumer-Tips/.

In the wake of any disaster, many reach for their checkbooks and donate money to aid and rescue organizations. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance cautions, however, that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is unlike previous disasters and offers specific advice to potential donors and volunteers.

“Although tens of thousands of individuals are already involved in the response to the oil spill, many others wonder how they can pitch in and help, whether it means writing a check or volunteering their time,” said Kim States, BBB President.  “Businesses, communities and wildlife across several states have been seriously impacted by the spill and the need for assistance is great. However, the constraints in the cleanup effort limit what charities can do with your money or how you can volunteer.”

BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends that donors and volunteers consider the following:

• Beware of well-intentioned but inexperienced organizations – New non-profits and relief organizations spring up following any major disaster. While these groups might have the best of intentions, new charities responding to a crisis may lack the resources, experience and management needed to be effective.  Ideally, look for established organizations with environmental expertise or experience aiding Gulf communities.

• Understand where your money is going – Find out how the organization plans to spend funds for Gulf relief, ecosystem recovery and related activities.  Among the activities that charities are promoting, in addition to shoreline rescue and protection, are needs assessment, litigation, economic relief, advocacy for new governmental energy policies and research into long-term solutions to minimize effects of future disasters.  Ask whether the organization offers to restrict your donation for use in its Gulf-related activities or intends to use it for general support for all of its programs.

• Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity – Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations posted on blogs or web sites, as the authors might not have fully researched the organizations they list.  The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities to verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the BBB’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

• Find out if the charity is doing Gulf-related work or raising funds for other Gulf relief organizations – If a charity is raising money for other groups, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to those performing the work. Research ultimate recipients of the “middleman’s” donations to ensure that these organizations are equipped to do the job you want to support and are aware of the individual or organization soliciting on its behalf.

• Volunteering for Gulf clean-up may require special skills or training – Learn what qualifications are necessary before setting off for the site. If you’re looking to get your hands dirty, you’re out of luck unless you’re certified to handle hazardous materials or have received training to care for injured wildlife. In fact, Gulf residents are being told not to handle any tar balls that wash up on the beach or animals that might be affected by the spill.  Other volunteer opportunities may include shoreline monitoring, fund raising, office work, help in food programs for families in need and providing transportation. Numerous charities with volunteer programs ask that you register with them so that they can assess your skills and place you appropriately when openings arise. 

• There will be many opportunities to give, so keep checking – The Gulf region will be suffering from the effects of the oil spill for years to come and, as the situation unfolds, there will be more opportunities for donors to step in and help in the future.  If you can’t find a cause you can get behind right now, plan to revisit the possibility of making a donation or volunteering in the months to come.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance has compiled a list of nationally soliciting charities which meet BBB standards that are asking for donations and volunteers for the Gulf effort. More information and charity evaluations are available at www.bbb.org/charity.

The FBI announced today that an existing fraud tip line is now accepting information from the public about suspected fraud associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Tips should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud, (866) 720-5721. The line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, e-mails can be sent to disaster@leo.gov or information can be faxed to (225) 334-4707.

Fraudulent activity can take many forms. For example, individuals may claim to be raising money for environmental causes or offer fraudulent services pertaining to the oil spill, such as remediation services. Others may submit false insurance claims for property damage.

>> Read more at fbi.gov.

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