Should You be Wary of Donating to Boston Marathon Bombing Benefit Groups?

Since the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon in Washington and the World Trade Center Towers in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, the groundswell of good-hearted citizens seeking to contribute to the families of survivors has been partially tainted by unscrupulous groups and individuals seeking to profit from tragedy.

The aftermath of the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15 have demonstrated that Americans are generous in their efforts to help the families and individuals affected by the terrorist acts, but some experts warn that scammers once again are trying to take unfair advantage.

Local ABC affiliate WJLA reported last Tuesday that at least one such scam was being perpetrated via Twitter. Under the Twitter handle “Hope for Boston,” someone posted a photo of an 8-year-old girl alleged to have been killed in the blasts while running the race in support of the children from Sandy Hook Elementary.

The photo actually came from a newspaper article profiling the girl, who ran in the 2012 Joe Casella 5K, a race that benefits cancer patients.

David Moore, a consultant to nonprofits in the fundraising business, told WJLA that people interested in donating to causes “take a deep breath, take a second. Just verify the group is real.” He recommends investigating groups by going to websites such as Charity Navigator or GuideStar.