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Donate wisely during relief efforts |
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In the aftermath of recent hurricanes in the United States, Canadian
police have warned the public to be wary about approaches by
little-known organizations to donate funds to various assistance and
relief efforts.
The RCMP said Canadian residents and businesses should take care when making donations that the organizations involved are reputable.
Those wishing to make charitable donations are advised to keep the following pointers in mind:
Give wisely to charities and organizations you know and trust. (A reminder that if you donate to a Canadian registered charity, you can qualify for a tax receipt. For more information, go to www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/charities)
Watch out for scammers using sound-alike names similar to legitimate organizations. Most often, the bogus charity has a name that is very close to that of a legitimate charity, but that's where the similarity ends. Sometimes, the caller will refer to a previous gift (that you didn't make) and ask for more.
If you have any concerns, you can find out whether a Canadian organization is a registered charity by checking the Canada Revenue Agency website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/charities or call 1-800-267-2384.
Those who feel they may have been victimized by a scam charity are advised to call the PhoneBusters National Call Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Information is also available on the RCMP web site at http://www.rcmp.ca/scams/index_e.htm.
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