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Avoiding holiday charity scams

Posted at 6:22 PM, Nov 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-30 18:22:24-05

The season for giving means it's the season for scamming. Many charities are out this holiday season collecting cash donations, that are suppose to benefit underprivileged families.

But the Better Business Bureau wants to you be aware of scammers pretending to be part of charities, just waiting to snatch your hard earned holiday cash.

"If someone is pressuring you to give on the spot that's a red flag a charity will take your money tomorrow just as they would today," Shawn Schofield with the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York said.

Schofield said it's important to do your research before giving to a charity. Also, avoid emotional pleas for donations. Many scammers will try to hook you through emotional personal stories. 

"You want to make sure that you're looking up the organization and that the group you're giving to is the group that you in tended to give to," Schofield said.

The BBB has made it easy for consumers to find out if a charity is legit or not. On give.org they've listed all of the creditable charities across the country and a break down of the money these charities spends.