Attorney General Schwalb Issues Consumer Alert on How to Avoid Charity Scams During California Wildfires

How to Avoid Potential Scams and Fraudulent Charities After Natural Disasters


Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below Consumer Alert warning District residents about potential scams and fraudulent charities when donating to California wildfire relief efforts.

“Many Washingtonians understandably want to help those harmed by the devastating wildfires in Southern California,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “Unfortunately, there are bad actors who prey upon that generous spirit, taking advantage of a natural disaster in order to line their pockets.  This guidance will help donors avoid scams and ensure that their donations actually help those whose lives have been turned upside down by overwhelming disaster.”

CONSUMER ALERT: Avoiding Charity Scams After Natural Disasters

Making charitable donations to help others can be very rewarding. Federal and local laws provide tax benefits for making such donations.  However, scammers may try to take advantage of consumers. Here are some tips to keep in mind before transferring money or sharing your personal information. 

Research the charity before you give money, or share your personal information:

  • Verify that the charity is real. There are several independent online sources that you can use to verify that a charity is real, and not a scam, before making your donation:
  • Confirm the charity is licensed. Companies or individuals asking for charitable donations in the District of Columbia are required to obtain a license from the District of Columbia government.  For District charities, you can contact the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Corporations Division, at (202) 442-4432, to verify the charity is licensed in the District of Columbia, or look online at https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Home.aspx. For charitable organizations outside of the District, contact the appropriate state charity official, https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/.
     
  • Request written information before donating. Ask the charity for written information on the organization’s mission, how your donation will be used, and for verification that your contribution is tax deductible. Find out what percentage of your donation goes to the charity’s mission. Be cautious of any charity that asks for your personal identifying information, such as your social security number, full banking information, or requests access to your computer. Also make sure that the charity has a secure, or encrypted way to share your financial information.
     

Be aware of any red flags, such as:

  • The charity refuses to send you written material describing the charity or how it intends to use your donation.
     
  • The charity asks for your donation via a money order, wire transfer, cash, or other non-refundable payment method.
     
  • The charity requires your donation immediately, or pressures you into making an immediate transfer of money.
     
  • The charity will only accept a recurring donation, or will only accept a donation if you leave your payment information “on file.”
     
  • The charity’s name and logo closely resemble another charity. Scam artists often try to take advantage of names that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate charities.
     

How to make responsible charitable donations

  • Make your donation to people or organizations that you know and trust or to whom you have successfully made donations in the past.
     
  • Be cautious about giving money over the phone or to a door-to-door solicitor. Ask the caller or solicitor for written information to verify their identity and purpose. You can also contact the charity directly to verify that the person is acting on behalf of the organization before transferring money.
     
  • Be cautious about making donations through non-refundable payment methods. Instead make donations by check or credit card (or other refundable payment methods) and ask for written confirmation of your donation from the charity. This will help protect your security and provide records for tax purposes.
     
  • Verify that donation requests for organizations that say they support the police, firefighters, or veterans are real. Scammers may try to take advantage of public support by using the words “police,” “veterans,” or other law enforcement or military names in their requests.
     
  • When donating in response to natural disasters or national tragedies, give through well-established charities. Scammers often form charities after such events or use similar sounding names/logos to well-established charities.
     
  • Be careful before giving donations through peer-to-peer or social networking websites, as it is difficult to verify that your donation will be properly used.
     
  • Some charities sell merchandise and claim that “100% of the proceeds” will go to charitable uses. Be aware that this may not necessarily mean that 100% of the sales price will be used for charity.
     

If you believe you have been scammed, or have another consumer protection issue, please contact OAG for help: