KENNEWICK, Wash. – As Giving Tuesday approaches, Washingtonians are being urged to protect themselves from charity scams.
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Office of the Secretary of State are sharing tips to help residents avoid fraudulent charity solicitations.
“Giving back to the community is vital and strengthens the fabric of our state,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said in a release. “But Washingtonians should be able to give to the causes they care about without having to worry their money will be stolen. These tips will help protect people from fraud.”
One common scam involves organizations impersonating well-known charities. To avoid these, ask for the charity’s employer identification number and verify it through official databases.
Phishing scams are another risk, where scammers send emails that appear to be from legitimate charities. It’s advised not to click on links in such emails and instead visit the charity’s website directly.
Pop-up scams often arise after disasters, asking for donations through crowdfunding. Residents are encouraged to donate to registered charities that have been established for at least three years.
Payment-method scams also pose a threat, with scammers sometimes inflating donation amounts without the donor’s knowledge. Secure payment methods should always be used.
The AGO is hosting free educational sessions to further educate the public on avoiding charity fraud. Sessions will be held on December 2 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at WorkSource Columbia Basin in Kennewick, with a Spanish webinar at 6:30 p.m.
