The holidays are here and everybody is usually in a giving mood, or at least they should be. Charities tend to raise a majority of their money this time of year.

But it’s also open season for SCAMMERS! So if you get a phone call from a charity you don’t recognize, here are some signs it might be a scam.

• They only offer vague information about what they do, and where the money will go.
• They can’t prove your donation will be tax deductible.
• Their name resembles a well known organization, but it’s SLIGHTLY different.
• They thank you for making a previous donation that you don’t remember making. Don’t just take their word for it and assume you forgot.
• They push REALLY hard to get you to donate right away. Which is a tough one, because the legit charities do that too.

If you’re ever in doubt, you can go to any of these three websites. And if it is a real charity, it should be listed on at least one of them: Give.org….CharityWatch.org…and Guidestar.org

-Jim