Lake County Gazette

'Tis the season for giving, but while you may be in the spirit of donating, scammers are acting Grinch-like, the Illinois state Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) is reminding people to be cautious.

Bos shared some tips from the Federal Trade Commission on social media so that Illinois residents can make sure they're donating to a legitimate charitable organization and not a scam posing as one.

"As residents in Illinois and the Midwest recover following a devastating series of tornadoes this weekend, you might be looking for ways to help those affected. Unfortunately, scammers are also busy trying to take advantage," Bos wrote in a Dec. 14 Facebook post.

Bos shared a graphic that highlighted Federal Trade Commission recommendations for donating: before donating, search for the charity on give.org, guidestar.org, charitywatch.org or charitynavigator.org; don't pay with a gift card or wire transfer; and ask the charity how much of your donation is going directly to what you want to support. 

The IRS also has tips to keep your personal information and donations protected. The agency reminded people, especially senior citizens, to be alert for possible scams. The IRS stated that scammers take advantage of the pandemic by contacting people, especially over the phone, for disaster-related donations. The IRS encouraged people who are thinking about making a donation to take the time to research the charity seeking assistance. 

The FBI recommended only donating to charities with which you are already familiar and to not click on links or open attachments from unfamiliar senders. Agents also ask people to avoid donating with cash, wire transfers, gift cards, or virtual currency, since scammers tend to ask for those methods of payment. They also recommend not sharing personal information through emails or robocalls/texts and to check the website, since most charitable organizations use a .org instead of a .com.