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| For
Immediate Release: |
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For
Further Information Contact: |
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| January
5, 2005
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| Office
of The Attorney General
-
Peter C. Harvey,
Attorney General
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Jeff
Lamm
Genene Morris
973-504-6327
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| In
Wake of Indian Ocean Tsunami, Attorney General
Harvey Cautions Residents Against Charities
Fraud
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| |
NEWARK
— Attorney General Peter C. Harvey
is urging New Jersey residents who wish
to make donations to aid victims of the
Indian Ocean tsunami to take precautions
in order to avoid becoming victims of
charities fraud.
“New
Jerseyans have responded with their usual
compassion to the devastating Indian Ocean
tsunami, with many giving generously to
relief efforts,” Attorney General
Harvey said. “While there are many
excellent charitable organizations offering
assistance to the victims, experience
tells us that some con artists see such
disasters as an opportunity to defraud
others. We don’t want to discourage
people from giving to this important cause.
We just want them to exercise caution.”
The
New Jersey Division
of Consumer Affairs’ Charities
Registration Section enforces New Jersey’s
Charitable Registration and Investigation
Act and works to ensure that organizations
are operating lawfully. To avoid becoming
the victim of charities fraud, Attorney
General Harvey asks residents to heed
the following advice:
-
Give
to charities you know and trust –
never give to a charity you know nothing
about. Ask for literature and read it.
Ask questions. Honest charities encourage
you to do so.
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Check
whether the organization is registered
with Consumer Affairs’ Charities
Registration Section or exempt from
the registration requirements. You may
confirm whether an organization is registered
or exempt by calling the unit at
973-504-6215. You may also
confirm registration online at
www.njconsumeraffairs.com/charfrm.htm.
-
Find
out how long the organization has been
in operation and ask to see its financial
reports. These reports, called 990s,
are available by calling Consumer Affairs’
Charities Section. They reveal how much
money the organization takes in each
year, how much it spends on the causes
it claims to represent and how much
it pays toward administrative, management
and professional fund-raising fees.
General financial information about
a registered charity is also available
at www.njconsumeraffairs.com/charfrm.htm.
-
Don’t
be fooled by a convincing name. A dishonest
charity will often have an impressive
name or one that closely resembles the
name of a respected, legitimate concern.
-
Don’t
succumb to pressure. Don’t let
yourself be pressured into giving, and
don’t feel you have to contribute
on the spot. No legitimate organization
will expect you to contribute immediately,
even if you have given in the past.
-
Ask
if the charity uses a professional fundraiser
and, if so, what percentage of your
contribution will actually go toward
the tsunami relief efforts and how much
will be used to pay the fundraiser.
-
Beware
of unsolicited and phony e-mail notices
that claim to be from a charity asking
for your credit card information. This
scam is called “phishing”
and could be used by thieves to commit
identity theft. If the charity is unfamiliar
to you, check whether the group is registered
with Consumer Affairs’ Charities
Section. If the organization is registered
or if you know the organization, call
the group directly to find out if the
e-mail notice is valid.
-
Never give your credit card number to
strangers over the phone or Internet!
_ag-ph_update.gif) |
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