BBB Warns: How to Guard Against Ebola-Related Charity Scams & Fake "Cure" Ebola Products

The Better Business Bureau Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia understands anyone’s fears about Ebola. Information is running 24 hours on the news and there can be misunderstanding about what is being said. But what BBB does know is that when any disaster strikes, the scammers will come. Here we provide information on fake “cure” products and how to make sure you donate to a reputable charity.

BBB, along with information obtained from the Federal Trade Commission and the Food & Drug Administration, provides the following information to keep you AND your money safe.

Fake Ebola Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to be aware of products sold online claiming to prevent or treat the Ebola virus. Since the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the FDA has seen and received consumer complaints about a variety of products claiming to either prevent the Ebola virus or treat the infection.

There are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs to prevent or treat Ebola. Although there are experimental Ebola vaccines and treatments under development, these investigational products are in the early stages of product development, have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness, and the supply is very limited. There are no approved vaccines, drugs, or investigational products specifically for Ebola available for purchase on the Internet. By law, dietary supplements cannot claim to prevent or cure disease.

Charity Appeals:

Urgent appeals for aid that you get by phone or mail, by e-mail, on websites, or even in person, may not be on the up-and-up. Unfortunately, legitimate charities face competition from fraudsters who either solicit for bogus charities or aren’t honest about how a so-called charity will use your contribution.

If you’re asked to make a charitable donation, consider these tips:

• Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection with current events. “Look alike” websites resembling legitimate charitable organizations and international aid efforts are popping up. Check out the charity with the Give.org, BBB’s national charity review organization.
• Donate to charities you know and trust. You want to find a charity with a proven track record. The CDC Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Congress, has a Global Disaster Response Fund that supports the CDC’s work in West Africa.
• Ask if a caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and what percentage of your donation goes to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don’t get a clear answer — or if you don’t like the answer you get — consider donating to a different organization.
• Don’t give out financial information — including your credit card or bank account number — unless you know the charity is reputable.
• Never click on links or open attachments in emails unless you know who sent it and what it is. Opening attachments — even in emails that seem to be from friends or family — can install malware on your computer.
• Verify the origins of any email or text messages soliciting donations for Ebola aid efforts.
• Don’t assume that charity messages posted on social media are legitimate or have been vetted. Research the charitable organization yourself.
• When texting to donate, first confirm the number with the source. The charge will show up on your mobile phone bill, but be aware that text donations are not immediate. Depending on the text message service used by the charity, it can take as much as 90 days for the charity to receive the funds.
• Never send cash: you can’t be sure the organization will receive your donation, and you won’t have a record for tax purposes.

A final note, there are more than 100 GoFundMe pages raising money for various Ebola campaigns. Do your research!