The Better Business Bureau is urging those looking to help those impacted by wildfires to make sure you’re giving to a legitimate charity.
Senior Communications Advisor Evan Kelly says when events like this happen, it often also brings out scammers. He says it’s important to be cautious about where you donate your money.
“It’s about doing your homework. If something pops up on social media, you want to take that with a grain of salt. Go to the Canada Revenue Agency website and donate to legitimate organizations that actually have boots on the ground.”
Kelly says you should be especially cautious of people going door-to-door, and ask multiple questions. He says you should be able to pay with your credit card and receive a tax receipt.
He says legitimate canvassers will have identification and will be able to answer questions about their organization. He notes that the CRA has a list of registered charities at: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
