BBB of Greater Houston & South Texas

News Release: For Immediate Release

The Better Business Bureau Serving:
Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Harris, Matagorda, Montgomery, & Wharton Counties. (Texas)

Better Business Bureau Tips:
Editorial Ideas From Your Better Business Bureau

Contacts:
Deana Turner:
Office: 713-341-6131, e-mail: dturner@bbbhou.org

www.bbbhou.org * bbbinfo@bbbhou.org * Council of BBBs: www.bbb.org *
24-Hour Information: 713-868-9500, (800) 275-3626 (from area code 409 only)

Businesses Should Use Caution When Supporting Community Fundraising Appeals

As a business owner, you may want to support the law enforcement, public safety or educational groups in your community by purchasing advertising in publications sponsored by nonprofit organizations. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends that when responding to fund-raising appeals you exercise the same intelligent thinking you would use in business making decisions.

Many local businesses are targeted by con artists who pose as salespersons from out-of-town advertising firms, wanting to sell your company ads in local calendars, yearbooks or souvenir programs to be given out at circus or dance shows. A variation of this advertising scam involves deceptive invoices for ads that the businesses never agreed to purchase.

The BBB suggests you understand the conditions of any specialty advertising and ask many questions before buying ad space for a charity or nonprofit fund-raiser. Find out:

• What is the salesperson's affiliation with the organization?

• Does the salesperson have any information about the organization and the programs the ad space will support?

• Can you make the check out directly to the name of the organization? If not, that's a red flag. Call the BBB for a report on the fund-raising company or charity, before you write the check.

• How many copies of the publication will be printed?

• How often will it be published?

• Is there a charge for the publication?

• Where and when will the publication be distributed?

• Is the full name of the charity or nonprofit organization indicated in the advertisement? Is an address or telephone number provided for those interested in additional information about the charity or the promotional partnership?

• What are your plans for donating to charities this year? How does this opportunity fit into your plans? Are there other charities that you should be thinking about instead?

If a salesperson refuses to answer any of your questions, doesn't have supporting materials about the charitable organization, or urges you to act immediately, you may be dealing with a con artist who really doesn't represent the organization.

For more information on business scams, contact the local Better Business Bureau at 713-868-9500 or 1-800-275-3626 (from area code 409) or visit the local web site at www.bbbhou.org.

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