Consumer Alert:

Phony Charities
in Times of Tragedy

Please read then forward to your friends and co-workers so they may be informed too.

Whether they are man-made or natural, tragedies often kindle the desire to help victims. After all, Americans have a tradition of giving during times of disaster. However, the Better Business Bureau advises that when you give, give wisely.

Use your head as well as your heart when making a contribution to relief charity. Be wary of appeals that dwell on the tragedy but do not specify how donations will be used. Request literature and call the BBB with any questions.

Some legitimate charities use professional fund-raisers who keep most of the money, and very little money actually winds-up in the hands of the charity. Then, there are outright scams. The phony charities are as regular as clockwork. Within days of any disaster, some people will attempt to take advantage of Americans’ eagerness to assist victims of any tragedy.

Consumers are encouraged to ask lots of questions, ask for referrals, get something in writing and don’t feel pressure to give on the spot. Beware of appeals that bring tears to the eyes but tell you nothing about the charity of what they’re doing about the problems they describe so well.

In the aftermath of the recent horrific shootings at Virginia Tech, the Better Business Bureau is issuing a caution to consumers and businesses to be thoughtful and prudent before contributing to a charity or outreach connected with the tragedy.

These are emotional times, everybody wants to help, but don’t be rushed into making a contribution, advises the BBB. Many well-meaning folks will be establishing charitable organizations to help with the victims or their families. Unfortunately, many of these well-meaning charities are unsophisticated and not really capable of handling significant sums of money.

Even more unfortunately, some charitable solicitations are at best deceitful and, at worst, just plain crooked.

The BBB recommends:

Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion, but short on describing what the charity will do to address the needs of victims and their families.
If you contribute, do not give cash. Make a check or money order out to the name of the charitable organization, not to the individual collecting the donation.
Watch out for excessive pressure for on-the-spot donations. Be wary of any request to send a “runner” to pick up your contribution.
Do not give your credit card number or other personal information to a telephone solicitor. Ask the caller to provide you with written information on the charity’s programs and finances.
Do not hesitate to ask for written information that describes the charity’s program(s) and finances such as the charity’s latest annual report and financial statements. Even newly created organizations should have some basic information available.
Be wary of charities that are reluctant to answer reasonable questions about their operations, finances and programs. Ask how much of your gift will be used for the activity mentioned in the appeal and how much will go toward other programs and administrative and fund raising costs.
Remember the opportunities to give will continue. The tragedy aftermath will not disappear when the headlines do.
If you have questions, contact the BBB charity information service at www.give.org.

Please visit www.sd.bbb.org for additional warnings, tips, and scam alerts.

Presented by the University of San Diego School of Law and the Public Interest Law Foundation

Friday, April 27, 2007, at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas F. Manchester Auditorium,
Manchester Executive Conference Center,
University of San Diego

Reception and book signing for Nader’s book, The Seventeen Traditions, immediately following in the lobby of the Manchester Executive Conference Center

The event will also be broadcast live on USD TV on channel 3

About Ralph Nader
Honored by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Americans of the Twentieth Century, consumer advocate and presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, has devoted his life to giving ordinary people the tools they need to defend themselves against corporate negligence and government indifference. With a tireless, selfless dedication, he continues to expose and remedy the dangers that threaten a free and safe society. In 1965, Nader took on the Goliath of the auto industry with his book, Unsafe at Any Speed, a shocking exposé of the disregard carmakers held for the safety of their customers. The Senate hearing into Nader’s accusations and the life-saving motor vehicle safety laws that resulted, catapulted Nader into the public sphere.

Nader quickly built on the momentum of that success. Working with lawmakers, he was instrumental in creating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Laws he helped draft and pass include the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Meat and Poultry Inspection Rules, the Air and Water Pollution Control Laws and the Freedom of Information Act. Working to empower the average American, Nader has formed numerous citizen groups, including the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, the Pension Rights Center, the National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest and the student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) that operate in more than twenty states.

Nader organized the Green Party’s first presidential campaign in 1996, and then ran for president again in 2000 and 2004. In his latest citizen initiative, he is working with alumni classes, including his own at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, to expand their efforts beyond parties and reunions to community projects that systemically advance social justice. He also lectures on the growing “imperialism” of multinational corporations and of a dangerous convergence of corporate and government power.

RSVP Required
For more information or to RSVP, please call (619) 260-6848 or e-mail usdlawevent@sandiego.edu.

MCLE
The University of San Diego School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider and certifies that this activity is approved for one hour of general credit.