ARIZONA, USA — Giving Tuesday usually marks a day when communities come together to support their favorite nonprofits.
However, the day is also marked by scammers trying to get money out of unsuspecting people with good intentions.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is asking state residents to do their homework before sending money to make sure the recipient is legitimate.
The attorney general's office offered numerous tips to people wanting to donate on the holiday, including:
- Be cautious of high-pressure or time-sensitive donation requests.
- Donate with a credit card or check rather than with cash.
- Make sure the check is addressed to the charity itself rather than an individual.
- Ask for written information about the nonprofit before you donate, such as how your donation will be distributed. Donators can also use charitynavigator.org to read nonprofit reports.
- Be wary of entities with names similar to well-known organizations, used to confuse donors.
- If you receive a donation text or email, contact the charity directly to verify the message.
- Don't provide personal information to anyone over the phone or in person.
Anyone who believes they were scammed can file a complaint on the attorney general's website here.
"In 2015, AGO shut down a fake veterans telemarketing scam that targeted vulnerable seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-related disorders," the attorney general's office said. "AGO also helped shut down phony cancer charities that bilked millions of dollars from donors nationwide."
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