The Good, The Bad, and Knowing the Difference

The good news: We are charitable people.

The bad news: There are many people willing to take advantage of the good news.

After disasters: hurricanes, tornados, even 9/11, professional scammers go to work, playing upon your good will and desire to help. You get unsolicited calls asking for you to donate money to help the victims. With Hurricane Irene quickly making its approach, I am sure scammers are setting up “boiler room operations” to start collecting your hard earned money under false pretenses.

We have seen this before. Do not fall victim to this scam. At the same time, do not be deterred from donating to legitimate charities. You know who the legitimate charities are and how to find them. Do not send money or provide any personal or financial information to someone calling you. The more someone plays upon your emotions, the more you should question their intent.

Be charitable, but be cautious. Most of all, be safe.