Verify before responding to charitable requests

MOSES LAKE — Along with many other things, Christmas is the season of charity. But because scammers are still out there even during the Christmas season, the Washington Attorney General’s Office suggests that people verify before they donate. Othello Police Interim Chief Aaron Garza said a good way for people to protect themselves from charity scammers is to be proactive.  

“It’s probably better that you seek out your own charities that you want to donate to,” Garza said. “You should be seeking charitable organizations that you’re comfortable with.” 

Scammers often mask their phone calls with legitimate numbers and names, although Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said that’s more difficult in a sparsely populated place like Adams County, where most people are familiar with each other. People who get a suspicious call or email usually contact ACSO and ask, he said. In fact, asking about the legitimacy of a contact is a good idea in general, he said. 

Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, said scammers are less likely to try to localize a charity scam. Usually scammers try to capitalize on big events and recent emergencies, he said. 

“They try to appeal to the human tendency to want to help others,” Foreman said.  

Garza said people should wait before donating, and AG’s office agreed with that. 

“Make sure they do some research first,” Garza said.  

The AG’s office has built its campaign around doing that research, which they’re calling “Pause (and) check the cause.” 

Scammers do use names that mimic the names of well-established charities, according to an AG’s office press release. It recommended bypassing the appeal altogether and going directly to the legitimate organization’s website to donate. People can also check the legitimacy of a request by asking for the organization’s employer identification number and looking in government databases, like the Washington Secretary of State, to see if that organization exists.  

Foreman said scammers try to contact people by any method available, whether it’s a phone call or text message, regular mail or email. The AG’s press release said scammers will send emails or texts with donation links that look like a legitimate charity’s website. People should bypass those and go directly to the legitimate website if they want to donate, it said.  

A scammer will use high-pressure tactics and try to appeal to emotions, Foreman said.  

“We encourage people to do their due diligence,” he said.