Be wary of holiday scam artists

During the holiday season, scam artists may try to take advantage of the spirit of giving.

To help make sense of the many requests for charitable donations that come via mail, phone, email and in-person, the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs came up with a Top Five Tips for Donating Wisely:

1. Know the charity. Never give to a charity unless you know its history, purpose and reputation. Before donating, be sure the name of the organization corresponds to the charity you know and respect.

2. Request information. The majority of telephone solicitation calls are done by professional solicitors under contract with the charities. The professional solicitors often receive a specific percentage of each donation. Virginia law requires telephone solicitors to tell you the name of the professional fundraising company that employs them and that they are paid to solicit your donation.

3. Verify registration with OCA. State law requires charities that solicit donations in Virginia, except for certain exempt groups, to register with the OCA. Visit http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/index.shtml and click on “Charitable Search.”

4. Do not give cash or give in to pressure. Once you decide to make a donation, write a check payable directly to the charity and not to the individual solicitor.

5. Examine gift offers. Mail solicitations often come with a small gift such as greeting cards or personalized address labels. The charity sometimes implies that the gift is yours to keep only if you make a donation. State law, however, specifies that unless you asked for the item, it is yours to keep without making a donation.

For more information, call the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ at 1-800-552-9963, or http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/index.shtml