LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some people appear to be taking advantage of Ebola fears. The Better Business Bureau is warning about Ebola-related scams and fundraisers.

There are more than 100 GoFundMe pages raising money for various Ebola campaigns. While some of them may be legitimate, officials say many are not.

The BBB says one particular GoFundMe page dedicated to one of the nurses who has been diagnosed with Ebola was taken down because the woman's family had not authorized it.

Officials encourage everyone to research any charities before giving money.

There has also been a phone scam reported, in which the caller says he is from a famous charity in New York. However, the Better Business Bureau says no such branch exists.

Here is a list of tips from the BBB about avoiding scams related to charities:

  • Check out charities at give.org, the charity reporting arm of BBB.
  • Confirm that the group is actually a charity; charitable organizations that have received tax-exempt status provide more opportunities for verification.
  • Give to individuals you know. It is safest to give to those individuals you personally know who are contacting you to support their specific project.
  • Projects that share updates provide greater transparency. Updates from a project's organizers help to ensure they're being honest about the uses of raised money.
  • Don't assume your donation or gift is tax deductible. If you are funding a project run by an individual instead of a charity, the funding you provide may not be deductible as a charitable gift for federal income tax purposes.
  • Be especially careful after a disaster or tragedy. Con artists will strike while the emotional iron is hot.
  • Read the fine print. There could be credit card fees and administrative costs associated with donating.
  • Specialized crocrowd fundingtes may be more adept. A site that allows any type of crocrowd fundingy result in more challenging oversight hurdles.

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