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You want to help people in need, but you also want
to be sure that your charitable donation isn’t going straight into a
crook’s pocket.
- If
you’re approached by an unfamiliar charity, check it out.
Most states require charities to register with them and file
annual reports showing how they use donations.
Ask your state or local consumer protection agency how to get
this information. The
Better Business Bureau Wise (BBB) Giving Alliance also offers
information about national charities.
Call 703-276-0100 or go to www.give.org.
- Ask
for written information. Legitimate
charities will be happy to provide details about what they do and
will never insist that you act immediately.
- Beware
of sound-alikes. Some
crooks try to fool people by using names that are very similar to
those of legitimate, well-known charities.
- Ask
about the caller’s relation to the charity.
The caller may be a professional fundraiser, not an employee
or a volunteer. Ask what
percentage of donations goes to the charity and how much the
fundraiser gets.
- Be
wary of requests to support police or firefighters.
Some fraudulent fundraisers claim that donations will benefit
police or firefighters, when in fact little or no money goes to
them. Contact your local
police or fire department to find out if the claims are true and
what percentage of donations, if any, they will receive.
- Be
especially cautious after natural or other disasters.
Fraudulent charities take advantage of those situations to
trick people who want to aid the victims.
If you’re not sure whether a charity is legitimate, check
it out with your state charities regulator and the BBB before you
donate.
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