WASHINGTON -- Giving Tuesday is around the corner and if you aren't careful, you could be giving your personal info and hard earned money away to scammers, instead of a good cause.
Our researchers went to the experts at the Federal Trade Commission and Charity Navigator to get you four tips to make sure your Giving Tuesday gifts wind up in the right hands.
- If you get a call from someone claiming to be from a charity, go ahead and quiz them. Ask for their charity's name, address, phone number, mission, goals and what they're going to do with your contribution. It's okay to take charge.
- Ask for their Employer Identification Number (EIN), it's a unique nine-digit code assigned by the IRS. Run that code through any reputable charity database—like Charity Navigator or GuideStar. That code is key to making sure they're the real deal.
- Check out how the charity spends its cash on Charity Navigator or Charity Watch. They're both non-profits. Charity Watch analyzes financial statements, tax forms, annual reports, state filings, to show you how much money from a charity goes into the program, and how much goes into stuff like fundraising.
- Don't use cash. Pay with a credit card in case you need to dispute a charge.
