Post by Admin on Oct 27, 2015 19:58:15 GMT
Charity Scammers and How to Protect Yourself
If you’ve spent any time in an elderly family member or friend’s home, I’m sure that you have noticed a majority of phone calls they receive are from charities asking for a donation. I’m sure you’ve also noticed they receive more calls from charities than the younger population.
The elderly population is more susceptible to charity solicitors. To prevent them from becoming victims, take the time to discuss with them what precautions they should take when receiving these types of calls.
Charity scammers usually follow the same protocol. They:
1. Might thank you for a pledge you never made.
2. Pressure you to donate right away.
3. Request cash or a wire transfer.
4. Offer to send a courier to pick up the donation.
5. Refuse to send information regarding the charity.
Measures to take:
1. Ask charity solicitors to mail you information regarding their charity.
2. When receiving these requests by mail, research the charity.
a. Is it a real charity?
b. Is your donation tax deductible?
c. Are they requesting a wire transfer or cash? If so, rule them out – chances are it’s a scam.
d. What percentage of your donation goes to the charity?
If you believe that you or a loved one has been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the police, or you can contact the National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) and they will pass your information on to the FBI, FTC, and the State Attorney General.
www.YourHomeCompanion.com
Charity Fraud
If you’ve spent any time in an elderly family member or friend’s home, I’m sure that you have noticed a majority of phone calls they receive are from charities asking for a donation. I’m sure you’ve also noticed they receive more calls from charities than the younger population.
The elderly population is more susceptible to charity solicitors. To prevent them from becoming victims, take the time to discuss with them what precautions they should take when receiving these types of calls.
Charity scammers usually follow the same protocol. They:
1. Might thank you for a pledge you never made.
2. Pressure you to donate right away.
3. Request cash or a wire transfer.
4. Offer to send a courier to pick up the donation.
5. Refuse to send information regarding the charity.
Measures to take:
1. Ask charity solicitors to mail you information regarding their charity.
2. When receiving these requests by mail, research the charity.
a. Is it a real charity?
b. Is your donation tax deductible?
c. Are they requesting a wire transfer or cash? If so, rule them out – chances are it’s a scam.
d. What percentage of your donation goes to the charity?
If you believe that you or a loved one has been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the police, or you can contact the National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) and they will pass your information on to the FBI, FTC, and the State Attorney General.
www.YourHomeCompanion.com
