Q. It was disturbing to read about the major charity fraud being conducted in East Tennessee. I receive this type charity telemarketing calls weekly; how do I avoid donor deception and fraud?
A. You are correct; it is very disturbing to learn that many consumers were deceived into contributing by charity bad actors. For the most part, we are a benevolent society and want to help when we hear about a good cause. However, donors need to be aware of potential deceptions, so their hard- earned money can go to the charities they can trust.
This activity is an example that fraudsters often name their charities to be very similar to well-known, legitimate organizations, such as the American Cancer Society. Be aware of misleading names.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to avoid questionable charity request:
* Be cautious when responding to phone appeals. Like all forms of fund raising, telephone appeals can be put to good use by a charity, or can be part of a deceptive campaign that can result in little money going to the claimed charitable effort. Never be pressured to make an immediate, on-the-spot contribution decision.