BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Giving Tuesday is a day for charitable giving, but not every organization that looks like a charity deserves your donation.
New York’s consumer protection division says charity scams get more common this time of year.
The Federal Trade Commission says there were almost 10,000 reports of charitable solicitation fraud nationwide last year, but many go unreported because donors don’t realize they were scammed.
Bad actors often pretend to be affiliated with well-known organizations or even the government.
Don’t give out any personal information and independently look up charities recommended to you. Also, avoid high-pressure tactics and don’t give cash.
If you’re donating, check your state’s attorney general’s website or other charity verification database to make sure the charity is legit.