Fraud Alert

Santa Rosa, CA (April 12, 2012) -Beware of possible scams involving individuals going door-to-door attempting to solicit money for charities. These fraudsters may be requesting donations for made up charities and/or charities they are not actually affiliated with.

If anyone asks you for a donation on behalf of a charity, consider the following advice from the Federal Trade Commission:

Ask for the charity’s name, address, and phone number, and written information about its programs. A legitimate charity should have no problem with giving you this information.
Be wary of charities that spring up overnight in connection with current events or natural disasters. They may make a compelling case for your money, but as a practical matter, they probably don’t have the infrastructure to get the donations to the affected areas or people.
Call the charity. Find out if the organization is aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name. If not, you may be dealing with a scam artist.
Do not send or give cash donations. Cash can be lost or stolen. For security and tax record purposes, it’s best to pay by check — made payable to the charity, not the solicitor.
Reject high-pressure pitches. It’s okay to close the door or hang up the telephone.

To research a charity before making a decision to give, utilize the Charity Research Tool on the California Attorney General’s Charities Webpage at: Charity Scams. For more information on precautionary measures to take prior to donating, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Charitable Fraud Webpage: Before Giving to a Charity.

To report suspected fraud, please contact your local police department or the Environmental and Consumer Law Division of the District Attorney’s Office at (707) 565-3161.

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Contact Information

Contact:

Terry Menshek

Media Coordinator

District Attorney’s Office

County of Sonoma

Address:

600 Administration Drive, Room 212 J

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Phone:

(707) 565-3098

Fax:

(707) 565-2762

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