Published: Monday, December 13, 2010
Do be a giver, but don’t be a chump
You may be filled with the spirit of giving, but don’t forget that there are plenty of folks who want to take your money this time of year.
Donations to charities have fallen during the recession, so you can expect plenty of requests for help this holiday season. But don’t forget that there will be some scammers among the legitimate solicitors.
Steps to take:
Ask if a solicitor is a volunteer or is being paid.
Ask how much of the money collected goes to charity.
Pay close attention to the charity’s name. Some scammers try to make their organization sound like a well-known charity.
Request written information from the organization or fund-raiser.
Check out the organization before you provide any money. You can check charities in Washington state by calling 800-332-4483 or by searching online at www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search.aspx.
The website is maintained by the secretary of state’s office and has a long list of charities that are registered with the state, as required by law.
In addition to learning whether a group is registered, you can learn how to contact the organization, learn its purpose, see if it’s tax exempt, learn how much money it’s raised, and see what percentage of the money was spent on program services.
Pay by check using the charity’s full name, not the fund-raiser’s name, but only after you’ve checked it out.
AARP, the nonprofit for older people, also is a good source of information. Check out its website at http://tinyurl.com/AARPholidayhoax.
The group offers some good tips to ensure that a solicitor is legitimate.
Other good resources:
The Federal Trade Commission offers a checklist to ensure your dollars get to the right place. Go to http://tinyurl.com/FTCcharitychecklist.
The National Consumers League also provides tips at http://tinyurl.com/NCLcharityscams.
As mentioned above, fund-raisers are supposed to register, but it’s also important to note that registration doesn’t guarantee that the group is legitimate or that a solicitor using its name won’t try to scam you.
State law also requires that fundraisers state their name, state the name of their organization and its main location, provide the name of paid fund-raisers who employ them, and, if the organization has a name similar to a government group, explain its relationship with the government.
The law prevents fund-raisers from making false or misleading claims, falsely implying a contribution is tax deductible, using the names “police, sheriff, firefighter” or similar names unless authorized, harassing or intimidating people, or calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Don’t let this column stop you from giving during the holiday season, but do make sure your money gets to the right place.
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.
Donations to charities have fallen during the recession, so you can expect plenty of requests for help this holiday season. But don’t forget that there will be some scammers among the legitimate solicitors.
Steps to take:
Ask if a solicitor is a volunteer or is being paid.
Ask how much of the money collected goes to charity.
Pay close attention to the charity’s name. Some scammers try to make their organization sound like a well-known charity.
Request written information from the organization or fund-raiser.
Check out the organization before you provide any money. You can check charities in Washington state by calling 800-332-4483 or by searching online at www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search.aspx.
The website is maintained by the secretary of state’s office and has a long list of charities that are registered with the state, as required by law.
In addition to learning whether a group is registered, you can learn how to contact the organization, learn its purpose, see if it’s tax exempt, learn how much money it’s raised, and see what percentage of the money was spent on program services.
Pay by check using the charity’s full name, not the fund-raiser’s name, but only after you’ve checked it out.
AARP, the nonprofit for older people, also is a good source of information. Check out its website at http://tinyurl.com/AARPholidayhoax.
The group offers some good tips to ensure that a solicitor is legitimate.
Other good resources:
The Federal Trade Commission offers a checklist to ensure your dollars get to the right place. Go to http://tinyurl.com/FTCcharitychecklist.
The National Consumers League also provides tips at http://tinyurl.com/NCLcharityscams.
As mentioned above, fund-raisers are supposed to register, but it’s also important to note that registration doesn’t guarantee that the group is legitimate or that a solicitor using its name won’t try to scam you.
State law also requires that fundraisers state their name, state the name of their organization and its main location, provide the name of paid fund-raisers who employ them, and, if the organization has a name similar to a government group, explain its relationship with the government.
The law prevents fund-raisers from making false or misleading claims, falsely implying a contribution is tax deductible, using the names “police, sheriff, firefighter” or similar names unless authorized, harassing or intimidating people, or calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Don’t let this column stop you from giving during the holiday season, but do make sure your money gets to the right place.
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.
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