Q: Dear BBB;
I have recently finished University for the semester and am looking for work in the summer months. The disastrous Gulf Oil Spill has me wanting to help the clean up effort or save aquatic life on the beaches. I have seen classified ads in newspapers and on the internet offering jobs for work involved in cleaning up coastal areas or working on related projects, etc. This sounds wonderful however, I have been reading about scam jobs too.
If I can’t get a job down there I would love to make a donation instead. There are so many choices it is confusing. Am I
WRONG to ask advice about what to believe?
~ Gulf Oil Gullible A: Gulf Oil Gullible
You are
RIGHT to be suspicious. Already, scammers have been reported offering jobs involving clean up coastal areas, or working on related projects etc. They are being promoted in many newspapers, and on websites. Sometimes these jobs require the person to pay a fee before being considered for the job. When an advance fee is required, the offer of a job is already suspect. Keep looking.
The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance has also warned people to be careful before they give.
"As a charity monitoring organization, we have seen time and time again that contributors often make hasty donation decisions in the wake of a disaster and don't take the time to find out specifically what a charity is doing," said Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Wise Giving Alliance. "For example, everyone is moved by the pictures of tar balls on the beach and oil-drenched wildlife, but not all of the soliciting charities are or will be involved with hands-on cleanup activities."
For more information on this and other scams find us at
vi.bbb.org