When you make a donation- know where your money's going
Tips from Simi's head of crime prevention
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

The holiday season is often a time when people think about charitable giving, so the public needs to be especially wary of fraudulent fundraisers at this time of the year.

According to the National Center of Charitable Statistics, California alone has more than 100,000 public charities legally registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Together these charities collect more than $100 billion annually in public donations, a portion of which comes from the pockets of local businesses and residents who find it in their hearts to support a good cause.

Unfortunately, fraudulent fundraisers are willing to use the public's good intentions to their advantage, especially during the holidays, by illegally setting up programs that solicit funds for phony causes.

Vicki Kaplan, community service specialist with the Simi Valley Police Department, said charity fraud is a common problem everywhere, and learning how to prevent it will help residents keep their hard-earned cash out of disreputable hands.

"My No. 1 rule of thumb is to only deal with organizations you know and trust," Kaplan said. "Just because someone calls doesn't mean you have to give them your money."

Phone calls, doortodoor requests, website solicitations, direct mailings and advertisements are all common fundraising techniques.

The Simi Valley Police Department has offered the following tips to residents who may be looking to donate to a charity:

•Don't give in to high pressure or emotional appeals that urge you to donate on the spot. If you are unsure, don't be afraid to ask for more information.

•Don't be fooled by a name that closely resembles the name of a respected and well-known charity.

•Give directly to the charity whenever possible rather than to an organization claiming it will forward your donation to the charity.

•Keep careful records of all your donations so you can identify fraudulent scams that claim you made a pledge you don't remember making

•Ask for the charity's taxexempt letter indicating its IRS status. You can't claim a taxdeductible donation if the charity doesn't have one.

•Never give cash. Make your contribution in the form of a check payable to the full name of the charity.

•Give out your credit card number only if you are certain that you are dealing with a legitimate charity. If using your credit card over the Internet, make sure the numbers will be encrypted.

•Never give out your Social Security number.

Overall, the best way to ensure the legitimacy of a charity is to "do your homework," Kaplan said.

"If somebody's calling and asking for money, I'd be very cautious," she said. "Get their name and phone number, then check with the Better Business Bureau or the Chamber of Commerce to see if there's been any complaints about them. Always know who you're dealing with."

The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance reports on thousands of national charities and updates its information on a regular basis.

It also offers a National Charity Seal program that, for a fee, certifies that the charity meets a rigorous set of accountability standards dealing with finance management, information presentation and fundraising practices. The program assists the public in identifying honest organizations and issues a seal that can be displayed online and in solicitation materials.

Potential donors can also check with the IRS to ensure that a charity has legally received tax-exempt status.

It is a federal felony for anyone to engage in mail fraud, wire fraud or creditcard fraud. To report possible charity-related fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or the National Fraud Information Center at fraud.org.