Keeping Your Money Safe this Holiday Season
Keeping Your Money Safe this Holiday Season
Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life, warns against being duped through charity scams. “Scammers often use sound-alike names of well-known and respected charities,” he says. “Or they invent ones purporting to help with four "hot-button" causes that target older donors in particular: police and firefighters, sick or needy children, victims of recent natural disasters, and veterans.”
There are certain steps you can take, however, to reduce the risk of fraud. First or all, you probably remember which organizations and charities have been the beneficiaries of your donations in the past. If you are getting requests from unfamiliar charities, do some research. Who are they? Where are they? How did they find you? If you get the solicitation by email, be especially careful and don’t click on any links that are embedded in that missive.
If someone calls you for support of a certain charity, ask them to send you the paperwork in advance before agreeing to any donation. Make sure you ask them for their contact information as well. That way you can follow up yourself and do more detective work.
The New Jersey Bureau of Securities can certainly help you identify which organizations are legitimate. Their office has many materials available and they are more than happy to answer your questions in their efforts to stop fraud in its tracks. Call the toll-free at 1-866-446-8378.
Finally, consider turning on the New Jersey , the best line of defense against many fraud tactics. Call 1-800-242-5846 or go online. You can download a directly from our website.
You’ve worked hard for your money and if an organization is lucky enough to gain your support, you want to be certain that your money is going to the right place.
Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Keeping Your Money Safe this Holiday Season
Tetra/Getty Images It’s good to remember during the holidays, when many charities begin to reach out to more of their members, that this season can be a time of giving but also, unfortunately, of taking. You may see an increase in requests from charitable organizations, but be aware that this is also a busy time for scam artists.Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life, warns against being duped through charity scams. “Scammers often use sound-alike names of well-known and respected charities,” he says. “Or they invent ones purporting to help with four "hot-button" causes that target older donors in particular: police and firefighters, sick or needy children, victims of recent natural disasters, and veterans.”
There are certain steps you can take, however, to reduce the risk of fraud. First or all, you probably remember which organizations and charities have been the beneficiaries of your donations in the past. If you are getting requests from unfamiliar charities, do some research. Who are they? Where are they? How did they find you? If you get the solicitation by email, be especially careful and don’t click on any links that are embedded in that missive.
If someone calls you for support of a certain charity, ask them to send you the paperwork in advance before agreeing to any donation. Make sure you ask them for their contact information as well. That way you can follow up yourself and do more detective work.
The New Jersey Bureau of Securities can certainly help you identify which organizations are legitimate. Their office has many materials available and they are more than happy to answer your questions in their efforts to stop fraud in its tracks. Call the toll-free at 1-866-446-8378.
Finally, consider turning on the New Jersey , the best line of defense against many fraud tactics. Call 1-800-242-5846 or go online. You can download a directly from our website.
You’ve worked hard for your money and if an organization is lucky enough to gain your support, you want to be certain that your money is going to the right place.
Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures