Donors beware, the season of giving often leads to scams

[Craig Nigrelli]

SIX FORMER APPLE WORKERS ARE NOW FACING FELONY CHARGES, ACCUSED OF SCAMMING THE TECH GIANT OUT OF CHARITABLE ** MATCHING DONATIONS**, THEN KEEPING THE MONEY.
ONE OF THE SUSPECTS IS AN EXECUTIVE AT A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS LIVING IN POVERTY, CALLED HOP4KIDS.
THE PROSECUTOR SAYS HE WAS THE RING-LEADER AND CARRIED OUT THE SCHEME FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS, BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021.
THE D-A ACCUSES THE Unnamed TOP OFFICIAL OF USING HIS STATUS IN THE NON-PROFIT TO KEEP MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS, FROM APPLE, ON DONATIONS, AND ALSO THEN RETURNING THE INITIAL DONATIONS TO THE EMPLOYEES.
IN TOTAL, THE HALF DOZEN SUSPECTS ARE ACCUSED OF STEALING ABOUT $150,000 AND OVER-REPORTING ABOUT $100,000 IN CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ON THEIR TAX DEDUCTIONS. WHEN ARRAIGNED, THEY WILL FACE CHARGES OF THEFT, PERJURY AND TAX FRAUD.
MEANTIME, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION IS URGING DONORS TO DO RESEARCH ON ANY ORGANIZATION THEY PLAN ON GIVING TO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. THE AGENCY SAYS DONORS ARE MOTIVATED BY GENEROSITY THIS TIME OF YEAR AND BY END-OF-THE-YEAR TAX DEDUCTIONS.
SECRETARY OF STATE WALTER MOSLEY SAID, “ WHILE THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME FOR KINDNESS AND GIVING, SCAMMERS MAY ALSO SEE THIS TIME AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT THE GENEROSITY OF OTHERS. “
HERE ARE SOME REMINDERS, IN ORDER TO AVOID GETTING SCAMMED.
CHECK DATABASES SUCH AS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OR GIVE.ORG BEFORE CONTRIBUTING.
BEWARE OF PHONY CHARITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR NAMES TO THE REAL ONES. YOU CAN DO THIS BY BEING VERY CAREFUL WHEN LOOKING AT THE NAME, WEBSITE AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR AN ORGANIZATION..
DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN RESPONSE TO AN **UNSOLICITED** REQUEST FOR MONEY.
BE VERY LEERY OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS YOU RUSH INTO MAKING A DONATION AND GIVES VAGUE RESPONSES ABOUT HOW ABOUT** HOW** YOUR MONEY WILL BE USED.
FINALLY, BEWARE OF ANYBODY WHO WANTS YOU TO WIRE MONEY OR WANTS YOU TO GO PURCHASE GIFT CARDS. THOSE ARE NOW FAVORITE SCHEMES OF SCAMMERS. FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS AP