We use this blog to connect our community to valuable resources in the realm of identity theft protection. A recent find of ours is Fraud.org operated by the oldest not for profit consumer protection agency. A recent post on the website focused on making sure your charitable giving is legitimate.
We all want to help our favorite causes, but we also want to be sure our charitable donation isn’t simply going into a crook’s pocket. Here are some suggestions:
(1) If 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 Give.org.
(2) Ask for written information. Legitimate charities will be happy to provide details about what they do and will never insist that you act immediately.
(3) Be wary 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
For more information on identity theft best practices, please visit www.hvshred.com