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May 15, 2019 www.DesertMessenger.com 19 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain Be careful of charity scams PHOENIX - Attorney General Mark Brnovich warns Arizonans to pro- tect themselves from charity scams after last month's fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Before the fire even had a chance to be extin- guished, suspicious and fraudulent donation drives to help rebuild the Notre Dame started popping up. Fake Facebook pages, unauthorized GoFundMe drives, and scam char- ity websites often materialize after tragedies and natural disasters, scamming people looking to help out of their hard-earned money. "We see a spike in fake online do- nation drives after every tragedy or natural disaster. It's disgusting people try to take advantage of hu- man kindness and our desire to help during a difficult time," said Attor- ney General Mark Brnovich. "While giving to important causes is com- mendable, Arizonans need to do their homework before they donate to any charity." AG Brnovich offers the follow- ing donation tips: • Donate to charities you know and trust. Beware of charities that seem to have appeared overnight in con- nection with current events. • If you want to make a donation, independently go to the website of the charity of your choice and make a donation. Do not click on any links in emails or texts you might receive. • Never give out personal or finan- cial information – including your Social Security number, credit card or bank account number – over the phone. If you are solicited by phone or in person, go to the website of the charity – or call the number listed on the website – to make your do- nation. • Never send cash. You can't be sure the organization will receive your donation, and you won't have a re- cord for tax purposes. Pay by credit card whenever possible, as you may be able to seek a chargeback from the credit card company if the char- ity turns out to be a scam. • Research charities with the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giv- ing Alliance, Charity Navigator or GuideStar. • Know the difference between "tax deductible" and "tax-exempt." Tax deductible means you can deduct your donation on your federal in- come tax return. Tax-exempt means the charity does not have to pay taxes. Even if an organization is tax exempt, your donation may not be tax deductible. If you would like a tax deduction, ask the charity for a receipt showing the amount of the contribution and stating that your donation is tax deductible. For more tax information regarding charita- ble contributions visit http://www. irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/ Contributors. GoFundMe Tips • Don't give unless you personally know the person who posted the campaign. • Giving on GoFundMe generally isn't tax deductible. • GoFundMe typically takes about 2.9% of each donation. • Verify that the intended recipient is in control of the withdrawals. If not, make sure there is a clear path for the funds to reach them. • Check how the funds will be dis- tributed. It is common for people to set up GoFundMe fundraisers after highly publicized events, and then the money disappears. The Attorney General's Office took action recently to protect consumers from fraudulent charities with Sen- ate Bill 1077. The bill, which unani- mously passed the state legislature and became law last year, makes it illegal to knowingly misrepresent to a person that a donation is: • Tax-deductible • Going to a non-profit corporation, or • Enabling the person to receive a tax credit To report suspected charity fraud, contact the Attorney General's Of- fice and file a consumer complaint online or contact the Consumer In- formation and Complaints Unit in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763; in Tuc- son at (520) 628-6648; and outside of the metro Phoenix area at (800) 352-8431.

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