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Floridians give billions of dollars to thousands of charitable organizations every year.
The holiday season is the best time of year for charities to raise money, as people tend to be in a more giving mood.
However, it can be tough to tell which organizations use the money for the services they advertise, versus those that mainly spend donations on salaries and overhead and others that are outright scams.
Attorney General Ashley Moody recently released her office’s 2023 holiday consumer protection guide with tips on how to determine whether a charity is legitimate or not.
Moody says it is much easier to avoid bogus charities up front, rather than attempting to get your money back later after you have been scammed.
“Be aware that there is fraud surrounding charities. Make sure you are donating to the specific organization that you are intending to, that it’s not just a name that is similar but maybe someone that is looking to take advantage.”
In addition to avoiding charity scams, the consumer protection guide has information on product recalls and online shopping tips.