With the holiday season approaching, the Boston Police Department is warning shoppers to be cautious of charity scams.
Charity Scams: How to Give Safely This Holiday Season
During the holiday season, scammers often take advantage of generous donors by using familiar-sounding names or impersonating well-known charities. To avoid falling victim, individuals should verify any charity before making a donation. Reliable resources include the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and GuideStar.
Donors can also use the Smart Donor Checklist to ask key questions about the charity, ensuring that contributions go to legitimate organizations and not into the hands of scammers.
Resources & Reporting: If you have paid scammers, there are some actions you can take to protect yourself from further issues and potentially get
money back. Follow the steps below on “What to Do if You were Scammed”
- Victims are encouraged to file a police report with their local area station. Please follow the link (here) to find your local Boston area station.
- If the scammers obtained your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov
- For additional reporting victims can also file with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).