“High-net worth families make attractive targets for criminals,” Dyezz Risk (Texas-based advisors to family offices) observes. It’s not just Texas, and it’s not just high-net worth individuals – charitable scams are rising worldwide (as the Australian government points out on its website!)
At Geyer Law, given the recent flash flooding across Indiana (with our governor declaring a statewide disaster emergency earlier this month), we thought it important to remind readers to be especially wary of the inevitable charity scams that seem to follow storms.
”Charity fraud schemes seek donations for organizations that do little or no work—instead, the money goes to the fake charity’s creator,” the FBI cautions. Upon receiving a solicitation, to ensure a charity is legitimate, there are official verification tools you can use:
As Indiana estate planning attorneys, we find that charitable giving is an important element in many of our clients’ overall estate plans. We also know that, following a natural disaster, particularly one so close to home, criminals will rush to set up fake charities with look-alike names and crowdfunding campaigns, and that it will be easy for many to fall prey to false requests for help.
“Following the aftermath of damaging storms across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita warns of charity scams targeting good-hearted Hoosiers,” At Geyer Law, we echo that thought – be generous, but don’t be caught up in a charity scam!
– by Ronnie of the Geyer Legal blog team
