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Criminals pry on the least suspecting people. One of the ways that some con artists and criminals try to make a buck is through the use of charities and charitable organizations. These criminals will claim to be with an organization, take the money and never give it to the cause they claimed they were with. This is why if you are making a charitable donation you need to go through certain steps to make sure that the charity and donation is legitimate.
Here are some ways that you can check up on the charity that you are donating to, to make sure that it is a legal, legitimate organization.
Do Your Research. Always do your research on the organization that you are donating to. Check to see if there are websites, ask for literature and ask if they have a 501(c)(3) status. These can help you better understand the charity and allow you to have the information that you need to pursue a donation to them.
Call Your State Attorney General. If you are curious to see if a charity is a legitimate you can call the state attorney general. They will have received reports of illegitimate charities and might be able to help you out with the charity. If they are a legitimate one chances are that the attorney general will have heard of them.
Check the Channel You are Donating to. Some people will claim they are with legitimate charities and are collecting donations for that charity. Make sure that the donation channel that you are using is a legitimate one and not one that will run off with the money.
It might seem hard to believe that con artists and criminals would prey off of charities but they do. Make sure that the charity you are investing your money in is legitimate so that you can support the cause that is closest to your heart.
