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Charity Navigator CEO Ken Berger on how to spot a scam when choosing a charity to donate to.
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Connecticut officials are warning.
A possible charity scams in the wake of the sandy hook tragedy here with what to look out for when donating this holiday season is -- Berkshire.
Charity Navigator president and CEO.
I was shocked by this an end to tell -- the truth a little bit appalled what should people be looking out war and how typical is it to identify one of the scammer.
Unfortunately it always seems to happen during these tragedies.
Well.
-- ways to look out for -- one is we've talked before about watch out for phone calls more often than not -- cameras that way.
They'll use dot org and people think that's a charity it's dot -- doesn't mean anything.
You got people on the street that ask for cash and even if they claim to be with a charity you've heard of cash is a great wafers cameras to abuse you.
There's a host of these kind of this -- sound alike names out people will take the name of the tragedy and turn it into.
What they're calling at a charity in fact it may be a scam and they'll create brand new web sites all the time thousands of them springing up.
That sound like it's the right thing but it turns out to be a total scam out of the of having you here today is that your website rates -- that -- actually come up with a list of cherries charities that are valid real.
And could actually use the money let's start with save the children.
Yes save the children as a four star charity and they have a safe space for the kids in -- right now so they're really trying to.
Have a place where this kids can play while the parents are getting counseling.
It's it's a great organization of the great track record donors she is that's -- made -- -- -- is also for stars and their way of doing things is.
They'll approach teachers in schools I'm sure the Newtown teachers are going to be turning to them.
And suggesting projects and then people can read about the projects and donate directly to that classroom.
United way -- not just the national organization united way of western Connecticut yet had their convening a group of people in new town to help decide.
-- funds should go and they're gonna direct them to the real needs on the local level as they determine American Red Cross I always think of them in cases you know what natural disasters that you say this is a good choice here why you know -- emotional support.
Mental health counseling.
Also helping the first responders also in the community so -- -- really experts at crises and emotional support as well as physical needs being that.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and I have to tell you that's a Smart move yet.
Well you know there are very interested in making sure that those kind of services are in place and they're advocating for -- counseling.
And what else -- they -- -- a lot of it also right now is self help groups so people come together families of people with mental illness and this suffering from.
Tragedy so they they provide a lot of self help support as well and quickly is.
The government doing anything to stop this I mean these cameras you know there are people out there right now -- checks to people who were only taking money.
Well she ever hear of these scams you certainly should contact your state attorney general and in this case Connecticut they've already put a warning out.
But unfortunately.
There's a lot of bad stuff that goes on and they're -- oversee that is very difficult but they will prosecute if they find out about so watch out those are your words of wisdom.
Can -- the website is called Charity Navigator dot org and it's great website.
Even if you wanna just research any kind of charity at all they rate them they really look at the bottom line -- thanks for coming on thank you so much appreciate it.
