Ohio Attorney General Warns of Veterans’ Charity Scams
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohioans honor members of the armed forces today, Veterans Day. So state Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning donors to beware of veterans’ charity scams and those who make false promises ostensibly to help veterans.
“The majority of veterans’ charities provide excellent services to help veterans and their families,” DeWine said in a prepared statement. “Unfortunately, there are some individuals and organizations that take advantage of the debt of gratitude we feel to our veterans and use the proceeds for their own gain. I encourage Ohioans to take the time to research charities.”
Thus far in 2013, the attorney general’s charitable law section has prosecuted six cases involving veterans-related charities, including a civil judgment against a fraudulent veterans’ charity and an agreement with two individuals to stop illegal solicitations on behalf of a legitimate veterans’ charity.
Among the warning flags a scam might be the target of a scam:
The charity has a name similar to a well-known, nationally recognized charity.
- High-pressure tactics and requests for immediate donations.
- Callers who are hesitant or unable to answer questions about the charity.
- Callers who offer to pick up donations immediately instead of waiting to receive them in the mail.
- Requests for checks made payable to a person instead of a charity.
One step people can take to protect themselves from scams is not giving their credit card numbers or banking information over the phone to the solicitor. And be wary of a call-back number such a caller provides. Check the charity and its telephone number with an reputable organization such as the Better Business Bureau.
For information about a charity or to file a complaint about a questionable organization, call the attorney general’s Office at 800 282 0515.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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