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Help Haitian victims by steering clear of scammers

Help Haitian victims by steering clear of scammers

A powerful earthquake in Haiti has prompted international leaders and aid organizations to urge the public to donate in the relief effort. Right now, you may feel compelled to help the families of thousands of victims there by making a donation. While the Charities program within the Secretary of State’s Office wants you to be generous, it also urges you to not let emotions cloud good judgment when it comes to donating your money.  Often, scammers use tragedies like these…

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Holiday Giving Tip No. 4

Holiday Giving Tip No. 4

Don’t let all those hot chocolates and candy canes cloud your good judgment! Today’s Holiday Giving Tip: Don’t pay cash and don’t give out your credit card number! Seriously! This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes when people are in the giving spirit over the holidays, they tend to be trusting of organizations asking them to do some good for mankind. But throw reason and discernment out the door just because there are Santas everywhere!  Pay by check and…

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Holiday Giving Tip No. 3

Holiday Giving Tip No. 3

Today’s Holiday Giving Tip: Don’t be fooled by the name! Are you terrible with names? Well when you’re dealing with charities, you better tighten up!  Often, fraudulent groups will use a name that closely resembles a reputable, well-established charity. Other times, they might try using a very sympathetic name to pull at your heartstring.  The bottom line is: It doesn’t matter what the name of the charity is … you should always check to see if it’s registered and get…

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Holiday Giving Tip No. 2

Holiday Giving Tip No. 2

We’re in prime holly jolly time now, when you are likely being approached each time you’re at the shopping mall with people who ask you to give to a good cause. Our Charities Program wants to keep you from being snookered, and has come up with some easy tips to make sure your donations pack a punch. Today’s Holiday Giving Tip: Ask “What percentage does your organization spend on the charitable purpose”? Why do this? Let’s say a group says it is…

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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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