Experts warn scammers will soon start trying to cash in on the tragedy.
PHOENIX — Steven Weisman has a motto.
“Things aren’t as bad as you think,” he said, “they’re probably worse.”
It probably sounds cynical. But not inaccurate given Weisman’s line of work.
Weisman operates Scamicide.com, a website dedicated to uncovering fraudulent schemes. He is convinced that scammers will target individuals affected by the Los Angeles wildfires and those looking to offer assistance.
And he doesn’t think it’ll take days.
“Minutes, probably,” Weisman said.
RELATED: What ignited the deadly California wildfires? Investigators consider an array of possibilities
The problem is, once you make a donation, you’ve accepted that it’s gone. You don’t know where your charity has gone, just that it’s been received.
So, Weisman said, you should research the charity before you give, especially if they solicit donations from you.
He suggests visiting charitynavigator.org, a platform that compiles details about charitable organizations and their operations. This site allows you to confirm the legitimacy of a charity and determine how much of the donated money reaches the intended recipients.
“A good rule of thumb is you don’t want to give to a charity that’s taking more than 25% for its administrative fees,” Weisman said.
The Better Business Bureau runs its own website called Give.org, which also lets you look up information and verify if charities are real.
“It’s a donation, so you want to be sure you know where it’s going,” said Jasmine Hill with the Arizona BBB.
Hill recommends you avoid online solicitations or grassroots funds.
“Just because something appears online,” Hill cautioned, “even if they seem well-meaning, you can’t be certain about how your donations will be utilized.”
RELATED: Families in shock begin to visit their charred homes in Los Angeles area
RELATED: Incarcerated Californians, working as firefighters, were on the frontlines of the Los Angeles wildfires
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app!
The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”
Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
