Attorney General Troy King today urged Alabamians to be cautious with their charitable donations this holiday season.
"Alabamians are a compassionate and generous people – especially around the holiday season." said Attorney General King. "Sadly, times such as these also attract those who will scam and scheme to exploit that generosity. Our people should give. They should be compassionate. But they should always be cautious.”
Attorney General King suggests that contributors make sure they are dealing with charitable organizations they are familiar with and that have track records and histories that can easily be verified. Reputable and established organizations are more likely to be better equipped to assist those in need in a faster and more effective manner.
Attorney General King offered some points of advice when giving:
· Do not give cash. Contribute by check or money order made payable to the relief organization of your choice.
· Be wary of telephone or internet solicitations. Absolutely do not give solicitors any of your personal financial information such as your credit card numbers or checking account numbers, and only give through established secure channels with which you are familiar or can verify.
· Ask questions about how your contribution will be used and be concerned if there is any hesitation in the answer.
· Say no to high pressure appeals, especially those attempting to hurry you into making a contribution.
For more detailed guidelines and information, Attorney General King suggests logging on to www.give.org, to reach the website for the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance.
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