Please share this, I am sure some of your good hearted Friends are being scammed How to Spot a Charity Scam Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help you give safely to trustworthy causes. • Beware of a solicitor who will not provide detailed information about the charity’s identity, mission, costs, and how the donation will be used. • Ask for detailed information about the charity, including name, address, and telephone number. Look up the phone number to see if it matches and then call the charity. Find out if the organization is aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name. • Get the exact name of the organization and do some research. Searching the name of the organization online — especially with the word “complaint(s)” or “scam”— is one way to learn about its reputation. • Check out the charity by contacting the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (bbb.org/us/charity), Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org/), GuideStar (guidestar.org/), or the American Institute of Philanthropy’s Charity Watch (charitywatch.org/). •Do not provide your credit or check card number, bank account number, or any personal information until you have thoroughly researched the charity. • Refuse any telephoned request for cash or to wire money. If the solicitor thanks you for a previous pledge that you cannot recall making there is a good chance they are trying to scam you. •If they use high pressure tactics to try to get you to make a pledge before you have had time to think it over. •If you are offered a guaranteed sweepstakes winning in exchange for a contribution, you can bet it is a scam. •Be wary of charities that spring up too suddenly in response to current events and natural disasters. Even if they are legitimate, they probably don’t have the infrastructure to get the donations to the affected area or people. Helpfulness: The Gift That Can Not Be Stolen Giving does not have to be limited to money. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov/ news.release/volun.nr0.htm) around 62.6 million Americans worked as volunteers in 2013. The Corporation for National & Community Service (volunteeringinamerica.gov/) statistics reveal that Americans donated 7.9 billion hours of their time last year. Top activities were fundraising or selling items to raise money; collecting, preparing, distributing, or serving food; engaging in general labor or transportation; and tutoring or teaching. Volunteers are critical to connecting people and strengthening our communities. When you contribute your money to a charity it has an important effect on the lives of the people the charity serves, but when you volunteer your efforts have an enduring effect on the people, the community, and the charitable organization that can far exceed the worth of a financial contribution. The Points of Light organization (pointsoflight.org/sites/default/files/site-content/ files/social_impact_of_volunteerism_pdf.pdf) has found that volunteering: • makes a significant contribution to the global economy • enhances the social connections between different sectors, and builds bridges between governments, businesses, and employees • helps build a cohesive, safer, and stronger community and stimulates people to be more active in civic affairs • delivers some part of public services, encourages more people to work in the public sector, and helps raise the educational performance of youth • has positive effects on volunteers self-esteem, enhances various skills and capacities, expands career paths, and fosters better physical and mental health
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 20:00:04 +0000