Beware Of Fake Charities

An official with the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection cautions people bitten by the spirit of giving this season not to be taken in by scammers. Michelle Reinen is Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. She says you could get an email from a sound alike or fake charity trying to capitalize on your generosity. She recommends researching a charity or giving to a charity you have in the past that you know is real and will make the most of your gift. She says never click on email links when you are not sure about the sender. Reinen suggests checking with the state’s Department of Financial Institutions, which keeps tracks of legitimate charities and how much of what you give goes toward administrative costs for a charity.