| OLYMPIA – ‘Tis the season for giving and supporting our community – just make sure you aren’t giving to scammers. As we approach Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs encourages donors to “Pause. Check the Cause” to ensure their donations are going to legitimate charities. Assured Giving, a collaboration campaign between the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) and the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO), provides resources and information that can help Washingtonians avoid deceptive or fraudulent solicitations and empower donors to make educated and informed giving decisions. “The holidays are a time to spread joy and give to those who need it most, not to scammers and frauds,” said Secretary Hobbs. “Assured Giving provides Washingtonians tools to protect themselves against fraud and ensure their hard-earned money and donations go where they are intended; not into the pockets of scammers.” OSOS recommends the following tips for donors to consider before giving this holiday season:Pause. Do not give in to high-pressure solicitations demanding immediate commitment.Check the cause on the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System before donating to make sure the charity or fundraiser is registered, and view the Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report, which is updated frequently.*If an organization is registered, review its annual registration, including its federal tax-exempt status and financial information. If the organization is not registered, contact the Charities division at 360-725-0377, email [email protected], or on the Corporations & Charities rapid chat feature.Check the organization’s Better Business Bureau rating at Give.org.If a third party is raising money for a charity, call the charity directly to make sure it authorized the solicitor to collect donations on its behalf.Do not give any personal information over the phone to any charity, and do not give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you did not expect.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission offers additional tips for recognizing a scam on their website. Visit sos.wa.gov/charities or call 360-725-0377 for more information. To file a complaint against a suspicious charity or fundraiser, go to atg.wa.gov/file-complaint. * Note that registration only means they can do business in Washington state and is not an indicator or endorsement of their legitimacy. Upcoming informational sessions One-hour educational sessions will be offered online and in-person to help donors avoid falling victim to charity fraud this season. The complete list of in-person and online presentation is available on our website. Interested parties that cannot attend the events can make a community education request by emailing [email protected] or by filling out a request form on the Assured Giving webpage |
| Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians. |
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