BPD Community Alert: As the holiday season and shopping begins, fraudsters will look to take advantage. Charity Scams are considered to be one of the common holiday scams.
Scammers will use familiar sounding names or impersonate reputable charities.
Those looking to donate to charities this season should first verify the organization by using: BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch or Guide Star.
Individuals can also utilize the Smart Donor Checklist to ask questions about the charity in question.
Reporting Holiday Scams:
- Local Police Departments
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov/
- If the scammers obtained your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov (https://www.identitytheft.gov/), to see what steps to take including how to monitor your credit.