When something catastrophic happens, like a natural disaster or tragic event that makes national news, charitable organizations may ask you for donations. There are real groups that will raise money for victims of these tragedies. But some of these callers may be charity scammers who are trying to take advantage of the tragedy.
The Town of Collierville and Collierville Police Department want our community to be assured their charitable donations are going to the victims of the September 23rd tragedy. Tax-deductible donations can be made at nationalcompassion.org. All funds donated will be distributed to the family of the deceased victim, Olivia King, as well as those injured, and those who were present in the store and experienced psychological trauma. The fund will also accept, and jointly distribute, the money raised through the GoFundMe campaign established by VictimsFirst along with funds donated to the Collierville Kroger Victim Relief Fund through the ColliervilleTNStrong.com campaign.
According to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, charity scammers often use social media like Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram as well as crowdfunding sites to ask for your donations. Crowdfunding websites, like GoFundMe, quickly collect small amounts of money from many people. You may see a link you can click to donate to a fundraiser for someone in need. The fundraising page may even have photos of real people. But the money you give to charity scammers never reaches the real people in need, and now the scammers now have your money and your personal information. Be careful! Do not click links or attachments or share them with your friends unless you know that the charity is real.
How to avoid charity scams
- Research: Always research a group before giving them money. Search for them online. Use a charity evaluator organization such as charitynavigator.org to research charitable organizations and obtain contact information. Look for the group’s name and see if the words “scam” or “complaint” come up, too. If they do, then the “charity” could really be a scam. If they say they are a part of a well-known group, contact that group directly using information you know is correct (from a legitimate website or phone book).
- Know Where Your Money Is Going: Many charities hire fundraising organizations or other organizations to help them raise money. While that is not necessarily a scam, it is important to realize that part of your donation will likely be used for administrative or other costs. Before giving, research how much of your donation will go directly to the charity.
- Ask About Registration: In Tennessee, a charity that is asking for donations must be registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State. If the organization is tax-exempt through the IRS, it should be able to give you its Employer Identification Number. Check the Secretary of State’s and the IRS’s websites to see if the charity is really registered. Be careful, though: sometimes even scammers may be registered.
- Document Your Donations: Always write down when you donated, who you donated to, and how much money you gave. Writing down your donations will help you be on the lookout for scams that claim you already donated to them, even though you didn’t.
What to do if you become a charity scam victim
Document it: Write down anything you remember about the conversation you had or message you received that encouraged you to donate to the charity. Be sure to include:
- Name of the person who asked for a donation;
- Name of the group or person they said were raising money for;
- Date it happened;
- Any contact information (the organization’s address, number, email address or the caller’s phone number);
- If you donated, write down how much you gave and how you gave it (cash, gift card, credit card);
- How you were approached to donate (through an email, social media, text, phone call, or in person);
- List of any sensitive financial or personal information you provided (such as your Social Security Number or banking information); and
- Anything else that you believe is useful.
Take Action and Report: Both state and federal agencies have ways to help you report an incident of charity fraud.
- Send a Charitable Solicitations Complaint Form to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. You can get this form online at sos.tn.gov/charitable. You can also call the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming at 1-800-861-7393.
- Report the charity scam to the Federal Trade Commission by going online to ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
Tell Your Friends and Family: Were you the victim of a charity scam? Did someone take your money or your personal information? Tell your family and friends right away. These scammers could also try to take money from people you know.
