GREENSBORO, N.C. — The crisis at the border has generated plenty of controversies. And that crisis has generated tons of money for charities. But whenever a major event like this happens scammers are out to try to steal your money.
If scammers stealing your money wasn't bad enough, well-meaning people often start charities but haven't fully thought out their plans and could mishandle your money.
Start with the watchdog groups. Charity Navigator and Charity watch are good choices. The Better Business Bureau has a Wise Giving Alliance that also monitors charity groups. All of them have detailed reports on charities.
Be wary of brand new charities. They're too new to have been vetted. So you'll have to do your research on your own. If the charity has no information on their website, that's a major red flag.
And if someone calls you asking for donations don't give them anything. At best, they're a well-meaning organization that you can donate to after you vet them. At worst, they're a scammer trying to take advantage of your generosity.