Attorney General Xavier Becerra provided tips to Californians on how to avoid becoming the victim of charity scams as we near Giving Tuesday.
“As Californians support one another and give back to our communities this holiday season, it’s important to make sure the charities we support are the real deal,” Becerra said. “I urge all Californians to be vigilant and do a little research to ensure that their charitable giving goes directly to those who need the help, and not to unscrupulous scam artists. If you have information about a charity operating outside the law, please let us know. The California Department of Justice has your back and will go after bad actors who try to take advantage of the generosity of Californians.”
Here are a few donation tips you should follow:
- Check the registration status of the organization:
- Charities operating in California are required to register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts. You can find up-to date registration info with this link.
- Give to organizations you trust:
- Do your research before giving.
- Don't be pressured by telemarketers: Ask Questions before Donating.
- If you receive a call, ask for the name of the fundraising organization, whether it is registered with the Attorney General's Office, the name of the charity benefiting from solicitation, how much of your donation will go to charity and how much to the telemarketer and the direct telephone number of the charity.
- If the telemarketer tells you the donation is for your local animal shelter, hospital, school, police, firefighting or other public safety agency, check directly with the benefiting organization to confirm that it authorized the solicitation and will benefit from your donation.
- Be cautious of "look-alike" websites:
- Fraudulent websites may have a slightly different web address.
- Watch out for similar sounding names and other deceptive tactics:
- Some organizations use names that closely resemble those of well-established organizations to mislead donors.
- Be wary of social network fundraising:
- if you plan to donate through social media, find out percentage will be going to the charity, about any fees and if a percentage will be paid to the platform website.
- Protect your identity: Never give your social security number or other personal information in response to a charitable solicitation.
