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WSL Updates for February 22, 2018

WSL Updates for February 22, 2018

Volume 14, February 22, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) INCREASE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 2) FINANCIAL LITERACY – FACTS VS. FICTION 3) FREE EXHIBITS – WILL TRAVEL 4) LC – FREE TO USE AND REUSE 5) OCLC – CONNECTING WITH YOUR COOPERATIVE 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK ————————————————————————————————————— 1) INCREASE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Work that focuses on public service can be both rewarding and costly. Being mindful of our own work narrative and understanding how…

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Watch out: businesses using fake certificates

Watch out: businesses using fake certificates

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: When it comes to turning over your money to someone else – whether to a charity or investment firm – check to make sure that organization is in compliance with the law and is properly registered with the state! The Corporations Division has recently been alerted to online investment businesses that are displaying and using fraudulent certificates that claim they are registered with the State of Washington. Yet, the State of…

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Watch out: Scam e-mails try to snatch Haiti donations

Watch out: Scam e-mails try to snatch Haiti donations

Yesterday our office warned you to be on guard against scammers as you donate to aid the horrific disaster in Haiti. Today, our IT department alerted us to the fact that spammers are already sending out scam e-mails requesting donations to send to Haiti – and these messages are convincing!   Here’s an example of the type of spam you may be getting in your inbox: The best practice, our Charities Manager tells us, is to donate directly to the charitable…

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Holiday Giving Tip No. 1

Holiday Giving Tip No. 1

Holiday Giving Tip No. 1: Know how to use the online Charities Search! It’s the holiday season, the peak time to get asked to donate money, and you’re not about to get swindled, right? To help you from becoming a victim of fraud or unscrupulous practices, we encourage people to check before they give. But what does that mean? And how do you do it? Here is a quick and easy 5 step process that takes a mere 2 minutes,…

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Don’t get fleeced by fundraising crooks

Don’t get fleeced by fundraising crooks

The region was stunned when four Lakewood police officers were killed in a tragic shooting recently, and many are looking for ways to donate money and help out families of the victims. But before you give, the Secretary of State’s Office wants to make sure you check out a charity fully! There are plenty of unscrupulous folks who use tragedy as a chance to scam generous, good-hearted people of their cash. If you get solicited to help the Lakewood Police…

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5 Questions about charity scams

5 Questions about charity scams

Last week, disaster hit the South Pacific and now many organizations are asking people to donate to the relief effort there. Charities Manager Rebecca Sherrell gives you some tips about how to protect your donations against scammers. Q. I want to donate to the Samoan tsunami victims – but I’ve heard some charities claiming to help are actually scams. How do I know what is legitimate and what is bogus? Good for you for wanting to help those in need! A…

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Don’t let bogus requirements fool you!

Don’t let bogus requirements fool you!

Washington business owners should be on their guard for scams that demand they pay to register “corporate minutes” or other internal corporate paperwork with the state, the Office of Secretary of State’s Corporations Division warned today. The Corporations Division’s warning is prompted by Texas Attorney General Greg Abott announcing this week in Harris County Court that a fake company called Medical Data Compliance had been scamming Texas businesses by sending “official-looking” forms demanding money to register corporate “minutes” in Texas….

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