Don’t get burnt

Disasters can bring out the best in people. But the reverse sometimes is also true.

Postal inspectors uncovered numerous charity scams following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Southeast Asia earthquake and tsunami, and the Sept. 11 attacks. Now, the California wildfires also have spawned a new wave of charity scams.

Scammers often try to take advantage of a disaster by stealing charitable donations intended to help victims. With tens of thousands of federally recognized charities asking for help, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service wants to remind employees to be cautious when making a donation.

If you’re interested in contributing to a charity that is helping victims of the wildfires, you can research California charities at the state’s attorney general’s Web site, http://caag.state.ca.us/charities, or at the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, www.give.org.