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 local businesses to beware of a yellow page directory invoice being faxed and mailed to area businesses.

BBB received several calls from local businesses who received faxes or mailers from multiple yellow page directory companies. The correspondence asks businesses to verify their company information.

The official-looking verification form shows the company’s basic contact information and touts the image of fingers flipping through the phone book. However, the verification form is not from any local yellow page phone directory but for a national online directory.

Businesses beware: the mailer is not a bill, but if you fill it out you may be contacted by someone who will try and collect money from you.

BBB Tips:

• Make sure to designate a single person within your business to handle such matters. The will be aware of any and all directory listings your company is placing and when they renew.
• If you have filled out this form, make sure you contact the company immediately to cancel.
• Be sure to read all small print on any form or contract you sign for your business.
• Many fraudulent or scam companies will use similar names or logos of known companies. Be sure you are dealing with the company you think you’re dealing with.

Warmer temperatures and rainy weather are bringing out various insects you probably don‘t want in your home.In the spring and summer months, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona generally sees an increase in consumer inquiries for pest control companies.

Nationally, BBB received more than 4,100 complaints regarding pest control services in 2012. Most alleged work not being completed according to signed contracts and inflexibility in scheduling when warranty issues arose.

When the job gets too big for home remedies, keep the following tips in mind before hiring a pest control service:

• Research the company. Check any pest control company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org before signing a contract. Look at the company’s rating, how it has responded to customer complaints and any advertising issues it may have.
• Compare prices. Solicit bids from at least three different pest control companies before making a decision.
• Ask about safety. Because pesticides and pest control products could be dangerous to touch or inhale, be sure to ask the company about the safety of the chemicals they use. Let the company know if you have pets, children or sensitive plants as that may impact the products they select for your home.
• Check for licensing and insurance. Make sure the company meets state licensing requirements. Also, be sure to ask for proof of the company’s insurance and coverage for any potential property damage or personal liability.
• Carefully review your contract. Be sure you fully understand the nature of the pest to be exterminated, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.