The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota offers the following tips if you're giving to any charity, including earthquake relief in Japan.

• Go to www.bbb.org/charity or www.charitynavigator.org to research organizations to which you might donate.

• Don't give your credit card number or personal information to a telephone solicitor or in response to an e-mail.

• Be wary of any charity that exerts pressure for an on-the-spot donation. Don't give cash. Make out a check or money order to the charity.

• Beware of fake charities that confuse donors by imitating the name of a well-known charity, such as the bogus National Cancer Society and National Heart Institute.

Who's paying the most for silver these days?In a recent article, I mentioned that sterling silver has become so valuable that families and antique dealers are cashing in less desirable pieces for scrap. For example, eight-place settings of sterling flatware weighing 3 to 5 pounds can sell for $1,500 to $2,500. Many readers called or wrote wondering where they can sell their sterling.

I called six buyers (two scrap buyers, two pawnshops and two jewelry/coin retailers) last week and asked what they were paying for a small amount of sterling silver to be scrapped. (Silver-plate pieces are generally worth much less than sterling.)

Here's a list of the buyers, from highest to lowest paid.

Enviro-Chem (Rogers, 763-428-4002, www.enviro-chem.bz): 91 cents a gram, or $28.30 a troy ounce.

Grove Coin (Maple Grove and Woodbury, 651-738-8352, www.grovecoin.com): 90 cents a gram, or $27.92 a troy ounce.

Wixon Jewelers (Bloomington, 952-881-8862, www.wixonjewelers.com): 77 cents a gram, or $24 a troy ounce.

W.E. Mowrey (St. Paul, 651-646-1895, www.mowreygold.com): 73 cents a gram, or $22.70 a troy ounce.

Uptown Pawn (Mpls., 612-823-3001, www.uptownpawn.net): 58 cents a gram, or $18 a troy ounce.

Excel Pawn (Shakopee, 952-445-1876, www.excelpawn.com): 35 cents a gram, or $10.89 a troy ounce.

Sellers bring in old sterling flatware, platters, tea sets and coins, too. Pre-1964 silver coins, except nickels, are 90 percent silver. Enviro-Chem is paying $22 each for silver dollars. Most of the places buying silver sell it as scrap to be melted down. Check with a coin or antique dealer if you think your pieces might have additional value. To get the most for your silver, bring it to more than one place to verify the weight.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/dealspotter.