AG warns residents planning to give Haiti relief funds

State Attorney General Martha Coakley on Friday warned residents who plan to donate money to earthquake-ravaged Haiti to protect themselves from fund-raising scams.”As this tragic situation unfolds in Haiti, we hope that people will consider making donations to charities and relief funds that can help those who have been impacted by this devastating natural disaster,” said Coakley. “There are many wonderful reputable charitable organizations who will surely play a role in assisting the people of Haiti as they recover from this tragedy, but unfortunately there are groups and individuals who may try to take advantage of the situation to profit through fraudulent fund-raising schemes.”According to Coakley, before making a donation, people should research the intended charity to make certain their money will reach those in need in Haiti.All charities and fundraisers operating in Massachusetts are required by law to register with the Attorney General’s office. This requirement also applies to businesses that advertise a portion of their sales will go to earthquake relief.To help assure that a donation is used for its intended purpose, Coakley suggests the following checklist:Check to see if the charity is registered and filing with the Attorney General’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division. Registration and filing information can be obtained online at www.mass.gov/ago/charitiesreports or by calling the division at 617-727-2200, ext. 2101. Donors should be aware that giving to an unregistered charity increases the risk that your donation may not be used for the intended purpose.Know your charity. Take the time to verify the address, phone number, contact information and review the Web site and written material, when possible. Consider a charity’s history, purpose, track record and reputation, and never give to a charity you know nothing about.In addition to researching a charity, go to Web sites such as Charitynavigator.org, CharityGuide.org and BBB.org/charity, where additional information on these organizations is available.Examine your options. Do not feel compelled to give to the first charity you come across. There are a number of established relief organizations already responding to the diverse needs created by the tragedy; in time there may also be legitimate, smaller charities that will emerge to focus on specific populations and communities.Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion. The hard luck tale is a favorite ploy of a phony operator. A legitimate charity will tell you how it’s using your money to address this horrific disaster.Ask questions. How much of the money goes to the charity and how much to a professional fundraiser? Ask who employs the telephone solicitor, if your contribution is tax deductible and what the charity intends to do with any excess contributions that might remain after the victims’ needs are addressed.Beware of professional fundraisers who try to make their solicitations sound like they are coming directly from the charity itself or volunteers.Do not pay by cash. Pay by check and make it out to the charity (use its full name; don’t use initials), not the fundraiser. Never give your credit card number to a fundraiser over the telephone. If the fundraiser directly approaches you, ask to see identification. It is best to mail your check directly to the charity.If contributing over the Internet, make sure that the Web site belongs to a legitimate, established and registered charity and that the Web site and the charity match. Make sure the Web site is secure and will offer protection for your credit card number.