Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging Floridians to be cautious of charity scams on Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to making charitable donations. Last year, Americans donated over $3 billion on this day, making it an attractive target for scammers. Attorney General Moody wants to ensure that donations go to legitimate organizations and not into the pockets of fraudsters.
In order to stay protected from charity scams, Attorney General Moody offers several tips. First, she advises individuals to research the charity before donating. This can be done by checking if the organization is accredited with the Better Business Bureau or by looking up its rating on CharityNavigator.org. Additionally, she warns against scammers who may use names similar to well-known charities to deceive donors. Furthermore, she cautions against automatically trusting unsolicited requests for donations via phone calls, emails, or text messages from unknown or unverified sources. It is important not to share personal or financial information with unexpected contacts. Lastly, when donating online, individuals should ensure that the website is secure, with the URL beginning with "https://" and the presence of a padlock symbol in the web address bar.
While charity scams can happen at any time, they often arise following a disaster or international tragedy. For example, the recent attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel have created a large humanitarian crisis. Floridians who wish to contribute towards relief efforts should be particularly cautious of scammers taking advantage of the situation.
For additional tips on charity scams, individuals can refer to Attorney General Moody's Scams at a Glance: Charity Scams resource, available on her website.
If anyone suspects a charity scam, they are encouraged to report it to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.
By following these tips and remaining vigilant, Floridians can ensure that their charitable contributions go towards the intended causes and make a positive impact.
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