As the holiday season approaches, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is advising residents to be cautious when making charitable donations. The warning comes as scam artists often use tactics such as adopting names similar to trusted charities or exploiting public sympathy during tragedies to solicit fraudulent donations. Organizations themselves are also at risk, with scams involving counterfeit checks and requests for partial refunds before the fraud is discovered.
“While I applaud Arizonans willing to donate to charities at this time of the year, it is important to remember that there are scammers trying to take advantage of your good will,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “Taking a few precautions on the front end can ensure that donations serve a charitable good, instead of lining the pockets of scammers.”
Attorney General Mayes provided several recommendations for individuals:
– Verify the exact name and website address of any charity before donating.
– Research charities online using terms like “complaint,” “review,” or “scam.”
– Use independent charity-rating organizations such as Charity Watch and BBB Wise Giving Alliance to confirm legitimacy and understand how contributions are spent.
– Ask specific questions about how much of your donation supports programs versus administrative costs.
– Do not feel pressured into making immediate commitments; legitimate charities will accept donations at any time.
– Protect personal information by avoiding sharing sensitive details over phone, text, email, or social media requests for donations.
– Avoid donating through debit cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash apps since these payment methods make recovering funds difficult. Paying by credit card or check offers more protection and provides a record for tax purposes.
– Keep records of all donations and review statements closely.
For organizations receiving donations:
– Be wary of large unsolicited gifts from unknown sources and verify donor identities using official channels.
– Confirm checks were issued by legitimate banks using independently sourced contact information rather than what appears on suspicious documents.
– Wait until checks have fully cleared before issuing any refunds; bank availability does not guarantee legitimacy.
– Implement internal policies requiring multiple approvals for outgoing payments or refunds.
– Educate staff and volunteers about potential scams and proper verification procedures.
Those who believe they have been victims of consumer fraud can file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office through its website (www.azag.gov/consumer) or by calling regional offices in Phoenix (602) 542-5763, Tucson (520) 628-6648, or toll-free outside metro areas at (800) 352-8431. Scams may also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and via the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker.
