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AG Healey Launches Online Portal for Charities Filings in Massachusetts

New Online Feature Allows More Than 25,000 Charities and Non-Profit Organizations To Streamline Annual Disclosures

Attorney General Josh Stein today reminded North Carolinians to be on the lookout for charity scams and shared tips to help avoid charity scammers ahead of the holiday season as part of National Charity Fraud Awareness Week. So far in 2022, more than 4,538 reports about charitable solicitation scams have been filed with the Federal Trade Commission.

“When you donate of your hard-earned money, you should feel confident that it’ll help others, not line some scammer’s pocket,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “As we near the holidays, please take care so scammers don’t exploit your goodwill.”

Here are some tips to make sure your donation helps those in need:

  • Choose charities you know and want to support, or whose work is local to your community.
  • Don’t just give to a charity because it sent you a letter, called, or emailed you – it may not be legitimate.
  • If you’re feeling pressured to give immediately, don’t. Legitimate charities won’t pressure you.
  • Ask questions about how much of your donation actually goes to help those in need. Sometimes, telephone solicitors will pocket a large percentage of a donation.
  • Research a charity before you commit to giving them money. You can determine whether charities are licensed in North Carolina and look up their annual reports on the North Carolina Secretary of State Charities & Fundraisers Search (sosnc.gov). You can also check with Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar, or call the North Carolina Department of Justice at 1-877-5-NOSCAM.
  • When you’re making your donation, pay with a credit card through the charity’s website or by calling a phone number you know to be legitimate. Credit cards are best for security and tax purposes, and so you can dispute the charge later if there’s a concern.
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Attorney General Josh Stein Cautions North Carolinians About Charity Scams

Attorney General Josh Stein today reminded North Carolinians to be on the lookout for charity scams and shared tips to help avoid charity scammers ahead of the holiday season as part of National Charity Fraud Awareness Week. So far in 2022, more than 4,538 reports about charitable solicitation scams have been filed with the Federal Trade Commission.

“When you donate of your hard-earned money, you should feel confident that it’ll help others, not line some scammer’s pocket,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “As we near the holidays, please take care so scammers don’t exploit your goodwill.”

Here are some tips to make sure your donation helps those in need:

  • Choose charities you know and want to support, or whose work is local to your community.
  • Don’t just give to a charity because it sent you a letter, called, or emailed you – it may not be legitimate.
  • If you’re feeling pressured to give immediately, don’t. Legitimate charities won’t pressure you.
  • Ask questions about how much of your donation actually goes to help those in need. Sometimes, telephone solicitors will pocket a large percentage of a donation.
  • Research a charity before you commit to giving them money. You can determine whether charities are licensed in North Carolina and look up their annual reports on the North Carolina Secretary of State Charities & Fundraisers Search (sosnc.gov). You can also check with Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar, or call the North Carolina Department of Justice at 1-877-5-NOSCAM.
  • When you’re making your donation, pay with a credit card through the charity’s website or by calling a phone number you know to be legitimate. Credit cards are best for security and tax purposes, and so you can dispute the charge later if there’s a concern.
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Attorney General Moody Encourages Wise Giving to Ian Recovery Efforts During International Charity Fraud Awareness Week

As Florida continues rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Ian, Attorney General Moody is recognizing International Charity Fraud Awareness Week with wise-giving tips for people donating to recovery efforts. Many Floridians may wish to contribute to the continuing recovery effort from Hurricane Ian. More than $45 million donors have given to the Florida Disaster Fund alone. Generous Floridians must stay alert, as scammers often try to exploit disasters to rip off donors.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This year’s International Charity Fraud Awareness Week comes as we continue to rebuild what Hurricane Ian destroyed. Generous Floridians and people across the country are contributing to the recovery efforts and we are so grateful for their support, but I want to remind those who want to give to watch out for charity scams and do some research before donating.”

Attorney General Moody is issuing the following tips to Floridians looking to give:

  • Research a charity before donating. Search the organization’s name with the word ‘scam’. Use CharityNavigator.org for further vetting;
  • When donating, use a credit card for extra protection;
  • Avoid aggressive solicitors and urgent deadlines;
  • Pay close attention to email addresses and website URLs—fraudulent sites will have slight changes from the legitimate sites;
  • Keep records of all donations and transactions; and
  • Do not click on any suspicious links in emails or text messages soliciting money or financial information, even if it seems like it is for a good cause.

Scammers may also target charitable organizations, especially after a disaster. A scammer could attack an organization’s cybersecurity systems in hopes of stealing donors’ identity or financial information, or may create an imposter organization that poaches donors from the true charity.

Florida charitable organizations can help prevent charity fraud by:

  • Investing in trusted cybersecurity systems and providing cybersecurity training for all employees;
  • Reviewing payment processing systems to double-check that it follows industry standards; and
  • Keeping all software up to date.

For additional information and tips for donating safely, check out Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Charity Scams. To view, click here.

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Attorney General Tong, Commissioner Seagull Urge Awareness During International Charity Fraud Awareness Week

Attorney General William Tong and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle Seagull are urging Connecticut charities and donors to be on alert for bad actors and scams during this year’s International Charity Fraud Awareness Week, a global campaign to prevent and fight fraud in the charity sector.

All charities, NGOs and not-for-profits are susceptible to fraud and can be easily targeted by bad actors looking to take advantage of them. Those providing services and supporting local communities may be especially vulnerable to fraudsters attempting to exploit recent crises such as the war in Ukraine and Hurricanes Fiona and Ian to carry out fraud and cybercrime. Donors looking to give charitably this season are also targets for bad actors who prey upon their generosity by creating fraudulent charities.

“As we approach the holiday season and the prime time for charitable giving, it’s important to be on alert for bad actors and scammers looking to not only swindle generous people out of their money, but also prevent people in need from getting the support they deserve,” Attorney General Tong said. “While there are many good-hearted people who want to help others in their time of need, there are also scammers lurking to take advantage of the situation. Be sure to do your homework and check whom you’re dealing with. Don’t give in to high pressure tactics. And remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

“As we enter the holiday season, when charitable giving is at its peak, we remind everyone to use caution and do their research as they consider where to direct their donations this year,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “We don’t want to discourage anyone from being generous. Our goal is to empower consumers and charitable organizations alike to make wise choices and avoid becoming the victim of a scam.”

Tips for Giving Safely This Year:

Here are some tips to protect yourself from fraud and ensure you are donating to legitimate charities and organizations:

• Do your homework. Before making a charitable donation, make sure you know who you are dealing with and what your donation will be used for. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, or Guidestar are good resources for verifying a charity is legitimate.
• Charities soliciting in Connecticut must be registered with the Department of Consumer Protection. You can verify a registration by visiting elicense.ct.gov.
• Don’t be pressured. Do not donate if the solicitor uses high-pressure tactics, asks for payment in cash or insists on sending someone to pick up your donation
• Be careful when giving out your personal information or credentials. Sometimes donors are required to make an account with their personal information to give to a charity. Those accounts can be compromised, and your information can be stolen.
• Keep records of your donations. If you donate by credit card, check your statements closely to make sure you’re charged only for what you agreed to donate.

Protecting Your Charity:

If you run a charity or non-profit organization, it is important that you protect yourself from fraud. Now more than ever, charities need to be fraud aware and take steps to protect their assets, donations, and information from bad actors.

• Don’t click on links within unexpected or unsolicited emails and text messages.
• Always double check whom you’re working with. Criminals are experts at impersonating people and businesses.
• Thoroughly vet unsolicited offers of ‘free help’ or financial support where an advanced fee payment is required.
• Regularly check your charity’s bank statements to spot unusual or suspicious activity.

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE CHARITY OFFICIALS (NASCO) ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE ENFORCEMENT AND
REGULATION

NASCO is pleased to provide fellow regulators and the public with the 2021-2022 Report on State Enforcement and Regulation. The report consists of a sample of cases in which NASCO members were involved in Deceptive Solicitation, Nonprofit Governance
and Trust and Estates actions. The report also includes outreach efforts and published guidance issued in 2021 and 2022.

2021-2022 Annual Report

Questions regarding particular cases, actions or issues should be directed to the relevant state. Contact information for each state can be found at www.nasconet.org.