SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S DECEMBER 2023 FRAUD ALERT: ‘TIS THE TIME TO GIVE…

The holiday season brings out the very best in many of us and it is a time of year that people are in a giving spirit. The holiday season is a time for appreciation and to think of others who are less fortunate or are in need of assistance.

Coincidentally, at this time of year, scammers are in a taking spirit and are happy to accept your charitable gifts.

In 2022, there were 1.97 million not-for-profit agencies operating in the United States. Many, if not most, are legitimate and benefit people requiring some form of relief or aid. However, with so many options, and so many charities that have similar names and causes, it is very easy to become confused and uncertain.

As we continue through the holiday season, phones will ring, letters will arrive and social media will be filled with pleas for donations.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office wholeheartedly supports those agencies working diligently throughout the year to assist the needy. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t remind our residents of those scammers and fraudsters using this time of year to ply cash from generous and caring individuals.

That being said, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office recommends that one of the following steps is taken prior to sending donations:

• Contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 800-HELP-FLA (435-7352). The FDACS will verify a charitable organization’s legitimacy.
• Visit Give.org (Better Business Bureau) website
• Utilize the “Check-A-Charity” tool by visiting https://csapp.fdacs.gov/CSPublicApp/CheckACharity/CheckACharity.aspx
• Conduct a “Tax Exempt Organization Search” by visiting the Internal Revenue Service at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
• Select a charity of your own by reviewing recommendations at Charity Navigator by visiting https://www.charitynavigator.org/. Charity Navigator helps you to locate reputable charities that align with your interests and passions.