You're sitting in a chat room minding your own business when suddenly a rather noisy person gets online and begins telling everyone in the room about how they found this great charity that was helping to get presents for needy children. The conversation is terribly off-topic for the chat, but it's the holiday season so you listen for more. According to this stranger, all you have to do is go to a web site and your donation can be processed online. The activity seems right for the season and the charity's name sounds familiar, so off you go thinking that you'll be making a small child's dream come true this Christmas.
Or will you? Recently, the Internet Fraud Watch has been receiving questions and reports from consumers about "sound alike" charities. These people have either been approached in chat rooms or received unsolicited e-mails telling them about a familiar sounding charity raising money for good deeds. Almost inevitably it's holiday related. The consumers are asked to mail checks, send e-mails with credit card information, or complete online donation forms at web sites. Unfortunately, their money might be going to con artists and not to legitimate charities.
So how can you make sure that your earnest donations actually help people this Christmas? If you know the exact name of the charity, visit the Better Business Bureau's Philanthropic Advisory Board or the National Charities Information Bureau. Those organizations can tell you if that name is on the lists that they compile and whether a charity meets the voluntary standards they set. The BBB has some of this information in an easy to use online "Give But Give Wisely" guide. If the name is similar to a charity you are familiar with but you're not sure if it's the same, try to find a number or a website for the charity you know and contact it directly to as if there's a relation. Online national phone directories, such as Switchboard.com and ATT.com can be helpful in locating numbers.
You should also contact your state charities regulator, which may be the attorney general's office or another agency (look at the state government listings in the phone book or see if state agencies are accessible on the Internet). Generally, charities must register with state authorities in order to solicit contributions from people in the state, online or by any other means.
If you're interested in supporting charities that provide services in your community, check with your place of worship or local social service agencies. They may have lists or recommendations.
Finally, don't allow these "sound alike" criminals to dampen your spirit of giving. With just a little forethought your gift can make a tremendous difference.
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