Many of us find that a good portion of mail includes appeals from charities for financial help\u2014whether it be to find a cure for a serious illness, help people who just need a hot meal, or to support our service men and women.\u00a0 All these causes are important, but it can sometimes be difficult to determine legitimate charitable organizations from scams.<\/p>\n
The Better Business Bureau has put together a useful list of fraudulent warning signs<\/a> to look for before donating:<\/p>\n You can confirm that a charity is an IRS 501(c)(3) entity by contacting the IRS.\u00a0 The IRS will assign a tax identification number, also known as an EIN, that you can look for on a charity\u2019s website too.\u00a0 Be sure to keep records of your donations so that you will be ready at tax time if your tax preparer requests such documentation.\u00a0 Finally, you can also look up a charity through the Better Business Bureau by visiting www.bbb.org\/charity.<\/p>\n The IRS also notes that whatever you do, do NOT give out personal financial information, such as Social Security numbers or passwords, to anyone who solicits a contribution. Scam artists may use this information to steal identities and money from victims. Donors often use credit cards to make donations. Be cautious when disclosing credit card numbers to those seeking a donation. Confirm that those soliciting a donation are calling from a legitimate charity.<\/p>\n Contact us today to schedule a free contribution to discuss charitable giving<\/a> in your estate plan.<\/p>\n\n