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ST. LOUIS, MO. (KTVI)- The recent terrorist attacks in Brussels has caused an outpouring of people donating money and gifts to charities. Some charities may not be as altruistic as they may appear however.

To navigate which charities are trustworthy, Bill Smith of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) joined the Fox 2 crew this morning with helpful advice. The BBB has a process for evaluating different charities.

Even after a tragedy, some people may try to benefit from the suffering of others. If you want to reach out and help those affected, make sure the charity is accredited through the BBB.

 

Tips when choosing a charity to donate to:

Rely on respected experts when evaluating a charity.

Be cautious when giving online to unfamiliar charities.

Find out if the charity has a presence in certain impacted areas.

Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups.

Gifts of clothing, food or other “in-kind” donations may not be appropriate.