Harrisburg, Pa. ― Sending monetary donations online always runs the risk of scams, but scammers are particularly active during humanitarian crises, according to the office of Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is urging the public to be careful when donating money or goods to assist the people of Ukraine, so they’ve offered tips for those looking to donate:
Step 1 — Ask Questions:
- Where will your donation go specifically? Charities should always be able to give you specific information on what your donation will fund.
- Who is soliciting your donation? Bad actors will try to take advantage of you without answering the name of the group they are calling on behalf of.
- Ask for the EIN (Employee Identification Number) for U.S. based charities. Charitable organizations should have this number and provide it to you. The EIN helps simplify IRS searches for charity information.
Step 2 — Double Check:
- Check with the IRS or the Pennsylvania Department of State registries to see if this organization is registered and if donations are tax deductible. In Pennsylvania, all non-religious non-profit organizations must register with the Department of State.
- While an organization may be registered, it does not mean it is effective. Check nonprofit sites like Give.org, CharityWatch.org, Charitynavigator.org or…
