Knowledge is Power!

Charity fraud & scams happen on a daily basis. Here are some simple things to be mindful of before making a contribution or donation to any organization or charity.

The bottom line here is: Ask questions. Lots of them. If an organization/charity refuses to answer them, I feel confident in saying with almost 100% certainty that it's a scam. 

There are tons of organizations and charities that will willingly provide you with any and all information & documentation that you request.

Learn how to protect yourself & your hard earned money.

I'm going to post some links for Canadian side of things, and the American side of things.

I'm going to start with Canadian, because well, I'm Canadian, and quite frankly I think we rock, eh.  (I do love my igloo.)

Linky-do for above article

Canadian Linky-dos:
How to protect yourself from charity scams & fraud & warning signs to watch out for. 

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American Linky-dos:
How to protect yourself from charity scams & fraud & warning signs to watch out for. 

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Of course there are tons of other links on the web with information.

Again, the bottom line: Ask questions. Lots of them. If an organization/charity refuses to answer them, I feel confident in saying with almost 100% certainty that it's a scam. 

We are fortunate to have information at the tips of our fingers these days.  We can search for just about anything.  Don't be afraid to use this tool to your advantage.  Also don't be afraid to contact the organization/charity and ask them questions directly, or ask them to mail you information.  

Don't be afraid to donate. Just be educated on where and how your money is being spent.