The local Better Business Bureau (BBB) encourages generosity in the wake of recent events in Ukraine but advises caution when faced with questionable appeals. Not all of those soliciting donations are capable of supporting those impacted, and some have no intention of assisting in the first place.
Just as there are those who view the situation as an opportunity to inspire support, there are those who view disaster as an opportunity to profit. It’s not uncommon for crowdfunding projects to surface with photos and names of victims but without permission for either. The lack of connective tissue to those on the front lines, and the use of another’s likeness to target the vulnerable, raises questions about the management and intentions of these operations.
Crowdfunding isn’t a one-size-fits-all ecosystem. Some platforms verify more than others; some don’t verify at all. Across the board, the vetting process leaves plenty of room to be desired. Consider that certain sites can hold and distribute funds raised by third parties for a specific victim, while other sites merely rely on the person who started the site to follow through on their expressed intentions. No matter the policy, each site should provide a detailed explanation of its rules and regulations – and donors should ask for clarification before agreeing to any type of contribution.
