Avoid Fraud When Making Donations For Victims of Hurricane Katrina

The following tips will help consumers who want to make charitable contributions avoid fraud:

· Be informed. Check out any organization that you hear about on the radio and television, or that contacts you via phone, mail or the Internet. Information about charities can be obtained from the Public Charities Unit of the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, the Better Business Bureau and the other organizations listed below. Inform callers that you will be contacting the Public Charities Unit.

· Don’t give cash. Make out checks to the name of the organization, not the individual asking for a donation. In the memo portion of the check write “Katrina”, so that your donation is allocated to this relief effort rather than the charity’s general fund.

· Do not give out your credit card number to solicitors who call or email you, or to organizations that you are unfamiliar with.

· Ask how much of your contribution goes to the charity’s administration and how much goes to program and victim services. Request that the organization send written information and respond after reading and investigating the literature they send. Consumers should expect that the majority of their donation go to services.

· Don’t send food or clothing. Aid organizations do not have the facilities to store or the resources to move donated goods. Organizations would prefer to receive financial contributions that can be used to fund the most urgent needs.

· Confirm tax-deductible status. To qualify as tax-deductible, an organization must be classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Check the tax status of an aid or charitable organization by going to the Internal Revenue Service website, www.irs.gov.

Be wary of groups selling merchandise claiming that all profits will benefit victims. Some may be legitimate; while others may have no association with the organization they claim to represent and may be using a charity’s name without their approval.

Remember that the need for contributions will be on-going and that in the months ahead you will have many opportunities to provide support. Take time to choose the recipients of your charitable giving to make sure that your dollars reach helping hands.

For more information contact:

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-787-3391

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov

Better Business Bureau

www.give.org

The National Database of Nonprofit Organizations

www.guidestar.org

American Institute of Philanthropy

www.charitywatch.org