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ad that in this wonderful season ofloving and giving, I feel obliged tooffer my annual caution to all ofyou about those people who "take advantage of the spirit of the season to line theirown pockets.When giving this holiday seasonremember to use your head, as well asyour heart , by following these tips forPontotoc Progress readers from LawrenceLoesch, former NYPD Deputy Chief andVice President/General Manager for AlliedBarton Security Services:

o Look-alike charities - Watch out forcharities with similar names to well-knownorganizations. Some scam artists try totrick people by using names that makethem appear to be the same as or comparable to valid charities.Always investigate the organizationprior to making a donation. Look at theirWeb sites. Many non-profit web addressesend in .org instead of .com.o P h o n ~ e scams - Be cautious of chari

ties that contact you over the phone . Forexample, there's a popular scam fromsolicitors who claim to represent police orfirefighter fundraising organizations. Askth solicitor for the charity'S mailingaddress so that you can send them a checkdirectly. When in doubt, call the charityyourself and ask them if they're aware ofthe solicitations being done in their name.o Know your charity - Many more

BrendaOwen Managing Editororganizations push for donations during theholidays. Research your charity beforemaking the decision to donate. I f they offeryou very little information, they may not belegitimate. A legitimate charity will giveyou information describing its mission,how donations are distributed and proofthat your contribution is tax deductible.

o How is your donation used? One ofthe most important things to consider whenmaking a charitable contribution is howmuch of your money actually goes to thecharitable cause. Most charities arerequired to register and file annual reportsshowing how donations are used. You canask how to find this information at yourstate or local consumer protection agency.

o Contribution collectors - Individualswho go door-to-door should be carryingproper credentials and identification .These individuals should be knowledgeable about the organization and be able to

provide you with informative materialsabout the charity. Ask for written information and the solicitor's identification to validate the organization. For security and taxrecord purposes, it's important to pay bycheck when giving a contribution and writethe charity's official name on the check.

o Mail s c ~ m s - Holiday greetings maynot the only thing crowding your mailbox .This time of year, watch for appeals fordonations. If you do not recognize thename of a particular charity, you can checkout their legitimacy as well as their efficiency with your money at the EBB WiseGiving Alliance website, www.give.org.o E-mail scams - Be skeptical of emails seeking charitable contributions .Many unsolicited messages receivedthrough e-mail are fraudulent. Do notrespond to these e-mails as many of themask you to send money to an off-shorebank account. Additionally, a fraudulentcharity e-mail may have an attaclunent, Ioffering you more information. Be aware,

as many times these attaclunents containviruses.o Other options - Instead of donatingmoney to a charity, consider volunteeringyour time.Contributing your personal time to help iothers can mean much more than simply Iwriting a check. You can also donate toys, Iclothing or nonperishable food and make itpart of yopr holiday tradition.

http:///reader/full/www.give.orghttp:///reader/full/www.give.org