Veterans Charity Scam

Officials in Florida have arrested a scammer who took in money for his phony veterans’ foundation.

Who Is It Targeting: Consumers concerned with veterans’ issues

What Is It: Bogus charity scam

What Are They After: One man who stole more than $20,000 on the pretense that he was operating a veterans’ charity is now facing charges. After a photo of the man taken with the local sheriff—at the scammer’s request—was used to promote the charity, reports came into the sheriff’s department about shady dealings the victims had had with the individual.

How Can You Avoid It:

• Always investigate any charity before you donate.
• Avoid “impulse” donations, but rather do your homework and select your charity based on your findings.
• Remember, charities and non-profits need your support all throughout the year; plan your contributions so that you won’t feel pressured to give on the spot.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from PalmBeachPost.com.