In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and Jessica Colbert discuss the ongoing Los Angeles fires and offer practical advice on how to help victims without falling prey to scams. From identifying legitimate charities to safely navigating crowdfunding platforms, they outline actionable steps to ensure your generosity has a real impact. The episode also highlights essential disaster preparedness tips, including safeguarding your pets during emergencies. We’re thinking of everyone and hope you all stay vigilant, give wisely, and can help make a meaningful difference in times of crisis.
Time-stamped Show Notes:
0:00 Introduction
0:53 To kick things off, we’re discussing why scams skyrocket during disasters and how to protect yourself while helping support others.
2:13 Next, we highlight actionable tips for identifying trustworthy organizations, avoiding unsolicited donation requests, and recognizing red flags in emails, texts, and calls.
5:18 Press play now to hear more about the risks of platforms like GoFundMe and how to verify campaigns to ensure your donations actually help the intended cause.
8:28 Listen in as Kirsten and Jessica talk about why financial donations are often the best way to help—and how to ensure your gift is tax-deductible and goes to legitimate causes.
10:03 Kirsten shares practical tips for pet owners, including microchipping and emergency planning, along with heartwarming stories of reunifications.
12:45 Our final call to action: Stay vigilant, protect your generosity from scams, and be part of the solution.
Transcript:
Hello, and welcome to Absolute Trust Talk. I’m the managing attorney at Absolute Trust Counsel, joined by associate attorney Jessica Colbert. Today, we’ll discuss the Los Angeles fires, which have burned out of control for almost a week.
Over 12,000 structures have been burned, leaving many without homes. While our Northern California audience hasn’t been directly affected this season, we’ve experienced tragedies similar to the Oakland Hills Fire. Naturally, we want to help, but it’s crucial to help the right way.
Today’s focus is on how to provide effective help and avoid scams. What do you want to start with?
When we talk about giving to the right people, we’re talking about not getting scammed. At events like this, we all want to help our fellow Californians and be generous. Unfortunately, while these sorts of events bring out the best in us, they also bring out the worst—people trying to take advantage of our generosity and all the help we’re trying to offer.
We feel a particular closeness to that issue because so many of our clients are elderly, and that population tends to be vulnerable to scammers. I’ve done a lot of education. I used to give presentations about avoiding scams and the particular ones that are most likely to be perpetrated against the elderly and the vulnerable on a pretty regular basis at various senior centers. So, this is a subject that is very important and near to our hearts at Absolute Trust Counsel.
Today, we’re talking about everybody. It’s not just seniors who get taken advantage of. It’s just so easy for someone with bad intent to create an opportunity for themselves.
Yes, we have some tips about avoiding falling into that trap. Our first tip is not to give money or donate to someone who calls or emails you, even if you think you know that person. We’ve all heard a variety of scams where someone gets a phone call from someone they believe is their grandson, for example, saying, “Grandma, I need $1,000 for this.” It sounds like that person—it can even come from that person’s phone number. We know now that email addresses, phone numbers, and voices can all be altered and faked. So, it’s best not to give to someone who contacts you over a phone or email.
Also, by text, because people will send fraudulent texts. And we’ve all gotten them. We’ve gotten texts that say, “Hey, your warranty on this or that is about to expire, click here.” Or lately, there’s that FastTrack text: “You need to pay money into your FastTrack account right now; click here.” Anything where someone’s reaching out to you, you need to be wary.
It’s okay to say, “Hey, that sounds great, but I can’t do it right now. Give me the information, and I will get back to you.” Ask the Questions: What is the organization’s name, address, phone number, and website? Gather as much information as you can. can, but don’t just say, “Oh yeah, here’s my credit card number.”
Another point is that when you get that information, make sure you get the exact information, like the name of the charity allegedly contacting you. A common scam involves creating an organization with a name that sounds incredibly similar to a very well-known charity and hoping that it sounds close enough that you fall for it.
That is an excellent point. Another tip, tip number two in this category: Give only to legitimate organizations. By that, I mean organizations that you have verified are actually legitimate organizations. This is straightforward to do. You’ve gotten the name of this charity. You can verify an organization by looking it up on one website that tracks charities. There are a few very well-known, legitimate charity-tracking websites. The Better Business Bureau has one. It’s called Wise Giving Alliance, and their web address is very simple: give.org. There’s another one called Charity Navigator, which is very well-known. Their web address is again: CharityNavigator.org. The Federal Trade Commission recommends these. If you go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website and read about scams, they point you to these two websites to verify the legitimacy of an organization.
Each of the charities I mentioned, Charity Navigator and Wise Giving Alliance, has a special section on its website just for these Southern California fires. So, it’s very easy to check on the charity that claims to be legitimate, well-intentioned, and wants to serve the victims of the Los Angeles fires and double-check.
Some donations can be tough to verify, and they pull at your heartstrings. We all want to donate to crowdfunding contributions, such as the GoFundMe. You read stories, and they pull at your heartstrings. It’s so easy to want to give to them. They’re often for great causes, but they’re easy to fake, and it’s hard to verify them. Even if you see a GoFundMe out there for someone you think you know, it’s best to call them and ask if it’s actually for them or their family member to confirm. We’ve all seen the news articles where all this money was raised for this great cause, and then the person it was raised for didn’t even get it because it was all a scam. So, it’s good to be cautious.
GoFundMe has, in light of this current situation, set up its own verification process. I don’t know enough about it—I don’t go on GoFundMe, I just read what I read in the paper. You might be able to satisfy yourself through GoFundMe’s processes that the campaign you’re looking at is legitimate. But if you see someone’s GoFundMe and think you know them, call them offline. Just call them and say, “Hey, GoFundMe—is that you? Is that really you?” With the internet, it’s so easy to fake things.
If you come across something you think is a scam, report it. Call the police—that’s a crime. Even if you don’t get scammed, but you see it, do something. You want to make sure that gets shut down. Not everyone is as thoughtful or as cautious. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If scammers are using phones or the internet, that’s a federal crime, and the federal government can shut things down quickly.
The second thing we wanted to discuss is what to give. Once you’ve found a legitimate organization to donate to, check its website for a list of needed items. It’s best to stick to that list. Donating old clothes that aren’t in good condition, for example, might not be helpful. Confirm what they need before donating, as it could otherwise create a burden.
Every organization can use money. If you can give money, that’s always the best option because they can allocate funds where they’re needed most. If it’s important to you that your donation is tax-deductible, ensure the organization is a registered 501(c)(3). GoFundMe campaigns are not tax-deductible; they’re people giving to people, not charities. Keep that in mind if tax deductions matter to you.
On a personal note, preparedness is key. If you have pets, ensure they’re microchipped and have collars with your contact information. Evacuation can be chaotic, but planning ahead provides peace of mind.
Stories of pet reunification after disasters are heartwarming. Take steps to help your pets find their way back to you.
In closing, be vigilant, do your homework, and give generously if you can. Thank you for joining us.
Resources Related to This Episode:
- Absolute Trust Talk Episode 163: Courthouse Confessions: Inside Trust and Estate Litigation https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/163-courthouse-confessions-inside-trust-and-estate-litigation/
- Absolute Trust Talk Episode 161: What’s Yours, Mine, and Ours? Untangling Community vs. Separate Property in Estate Planning https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/161-whats-yours-mine-and-ours-untangling-community-vs-separate-property-in-estate-planning/
- Episode 158: Avoiding Trustee Liability: Critical Steps Before Distributing Assets https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/158-avoiding-trustee-liability-critical-steps-before-distributing-assets/
- A Will is Not Enough – Securing Your Legacy with Estate Planning Life can change in an instant. A will is not enough to be prepared. Get free access to our actionable E-book Guidebook #1 and start protecting your legacy today. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/guidebooks/
- Learn how to comfortably define gray areas and assess your own unique needs to effortlessly build a secure future now. Check out Guidebook #2, Estate Planning Beyond the Basics, here > https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/guidebooks/
- Get our free introductory guide to the most used estate planning tool, family trusts, and understand how we plan to help protect your family. Guidebook #3: https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/guidebooks/
- Absolute Trust Counsel would love to offer access to our Incapacity Planning resource page: https://AbsoluteTrustCounsel.com/Incapacity-Planning/. We’ve collected our top planning information all in one place so listeners can find videos, guidebooks, blog posts, and a host of information with tips and strategies on implementing, planning, and protecting themselves and their loved ones.
- We’re pleased to provide a library of e-books to address common estate planning questions and concerns in practical, easy-to-understand language. https://AbsoluteTrustCounsel.com/Resources/.
- ASK KIRSTEN: If you’d like Kirsten to answer your question on the air, please email her at Info@AbsoluteTrustCounsel.com.
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