On Giving Tuesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is sharing advice on how to stay away from charity scams.
Giving Tuesday is a widely observed day on which people donate to nonprofit organizations. Over $3 billion was donated by Americans on Giving Tuesday of last year, according to reports.
Giving during the end-of-year holidays is a common practice among giving Floridians.
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Attorney General Moody is offering advice to Floridians on how to make sure donations are allocated to the intended purposes.
On Giving Tuesday, it is crucial for generous Floridians to be aware of the possibility of charity scams before donating. We want to ensure that charitable donations go to legitimate organizations that genuinely support their causes, rather than lining the pockets of fraudsters,” said Moody.
Moody offers the following tips to help stay protected from charity scams:
- Research the Charity: Before donating, research the charity online and make sure it is accredited with the Better Business Bureau or check for its rating on CharityNavigator.org;
- Beware of Similar Names: Scammers may use names that sound similar to well-known charities;
- Be Cautious with Unsolicited Requests: Do not automatically trust phone calls, emails or text messages from unknown or unverified sources requesting donations;
- Don’t Share Personal or Financial Information: Never provide personal or financial information to an unexpected contact; and
- Secure Online Donations: When donating online, ensure the website is secure and the URL begins with ‘https://.’ Look for the padlock symbol in the web address bar.
Charity scams can happen at any time, but often arise following a disaster or an international tragedy. Last month, barbaric Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, creating a large humanitarian crisis. Floridians wishing to give toward relief efforts should be cautious of scammers.
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