Charity Fraud

Written by Kevin Carraway


Charity fraud does a lot of harm. The con artist takes advantage of people's good will and takes their cash - money that was meant for people in need. You can make sure that any money you give gets intorepparttar right hands. Just remember these tips when somebody asks you for a donation.

·Ask for identification -repparttar 142906 organization ANDrepparttar 142907 solicitor. Find out whatrepparttar 142908 purpose ofrepparttar 142909 charity is and how funds are used.

·Ask if contributions are tax deductible.

·If you're not satisfied withrepparttar 142910 answers-don't give.

·Give to charities that you know.

·Check outrepparttar 142911 ones you've never heard of before, or others whose names are similar to a well-known charity.

·Don't fall for high-pressure tactics. If solicitors won't take no for an answer, tell them NO anyway - BUT DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY.

·Be suspicious of charities that only accept cash.

·Always send a check made out torepparttar 142912 charity and notrepparttar 142913 individual requestingrepparttar 142914 donation.

THE PIGEON DROP A person approaches you and says that he just found a large amount of money. What should he do with it? Maybe his "boss" can suggest something. He then leaves to check with his "boss" and comes back a few minutes later. His boss said to dividerepparttar 142915 money, but first, each of you must put up some, "good faith money". Once you hand over your share, you'll never see it orrepparttar 142916 con artist again.

Tips for Handling Bogus Phone Calls

Written by Kevin Carraway


They may say that their car has broken down and they need to phone someone for help. They may pretend to be a workman, saying that they need to check your electricity or water. They might even claim to be fromrepparttar council and that they are carrying out a local survey. Whatever reason a caller gives, you need to be sure that they aren't just trying to get into your home to steal something.

There are around 12,000 incidents of "distraction burglary" each year, where callers get into homes and then steal cash or valuables whilerepparttar 142905 occupier is distracted in some way. Sometimes they work in pairs, with one doingrepparttar 142906 talking whilerepparttar 142907 other is stealing and they often targetrepparttar 142908 elderly.

Be on your guard every timerepparttar 142909 doorbell rings, or there's a knock at your door. Look out of your window to see who's there first and if you don't know whorepparttar 142910 person is, openrepparttar 142911 window slightly and talk to them that way, rather than opening your door. Alternatively, have a viewer fitted in your front door so that you can take a good look at who's there first. If your eyesight isn't so good, don't worry as you can now get wide-angle viewers to help you see better.

Putrepparttar 142912 door chain or door bar on before openingrepparttar 142913 door and talk throughrepparttar 142914 gap. You could even fit a small mirror torepparttar 142915 wall next torepparttar 142916 door so that you can easily seerepparttar 142917 person you are talking to. Whenrepparttar 142918 caller has left and you've closedrepparttar 142919 door, don't forget to unhookrepparttar 142920 chain so that any friend or relative you have given a key to can still get in. Make sure your back door is locked if someone knocks at your front door. Sometimes thieves work together with one coming inrepparttar 142921 back way, whilerepparttar 142922 other keeps you talking atrepparttar 142923 front.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use