Better Business Bureau urges caution in Fort McMurray relief donations

The Better Business Bureau is advising people to do their homework before donating to charities for Fort McMurray evacuees.

Spokesperson Leah Brownridge says natural disasters can be fertile ground for scammers.

She recommends people check whether a charity is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.

"So, if you come across a charity that you're not that familiar with, you want to see if they can prove their status with Canada Revenue Agency and if they can't, that could be a red flag and a sign that you should be looking for an official registered charity to deal with," Brownridge explained.

She says GoFundMe campaigns can be riskier because they are not monitored by the agency, but that doesn't mean they are not legitimate. Consumers should just be extra cautious.

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She says some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations but she recommends avoiding the middleman and giving directly to the organization.

People have lots of options to give to Fort McMurray evacuees, here are just some:

• Canadian Red Cross
• Fort McMurray Salvation Army
• Wood Buffalo Food Bank
• United Way of Fort McMurray