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CHARITABLE
DONATIONS: MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION COUNT.
IT IS A CERTAINTY WHEN NATURAL OR MAN MADE DISASTERS
STRIKE, WE AS GOOD CITIZENS ALWAYS STEP UP AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. TIME AND
TIME AGAIN, FLOODING, HURRICANES, EARTHQUAKES AND MOST RECENTLY, THE SENSELESS
ACT OF TERRORISM RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD HAS REVEALED JUST HOW THOUGHTFUL AND
CHARITABLE WE ARE.
SO, AS UNIMAGINABLE AS THESE DISASTERS AND ACTS OF TERRORISM ARE, SO TO
IS THE CONCEPT OF FRAUDULENT SOLICITATION FOR HELP. PLEASE TAKE HEED AND
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ADVICE WHEN YOU DECIDE TO ASSIST RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS
WITH DONATIONS.
YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW MAY GET A PHONE CALL, LETTER OR EVEN AN EMAIL
ASKING FOR FINANCIAL DONATIONS OR FOOD, CLOTHING AND OTHER SUPPORT. PLEASE
REMEMBER BE INTELLIGENT AND CERTAIN AS TO WHOM YOU ARE DEALING WITH AND WHERE
YOUR DONATION IS GOING.
IN NEW JERSEY, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS MUST, WE REPEAT, MUST REGISTER
WITH THE STATE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE ACT OF REGISTERING WITH THE
STATE IN OF ITSELF DOES NOT INSURE THE GROUP TO BE CREDIBLE. IT IS HOWEVER, A
VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS OF ACCOUNTABILITY. REMEMBER THE WHOLE
IDEA BEHIND DONATING IS TO MAKE CERTAIN AS MUCH OF YOUR EFFORT IS USED
ACCORDINGLY.
THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ASSIGNS EACH REGISTERED SOLICITOR WITH A
SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE STATE IS THEN ABLE TO TRACK THE RECORD OF THE
REGISTRANT, INCLUDING FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND EXPENSES
VERSUS ACTUAL MONEY SPENT ON RELIEF. THE STATE WILL SUPPLY YOU WITH THE
PERCENTAGES AND ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNTS THE SOLICITOR APPLIES TO YOUR CONCERN.
ADVICE FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS TO CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO
ORGANIZATIONS WITH PROVEN HISTORIES OF RELIEF SUCH AS THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND
SALVATION ARMY. THIS IS NOT TO SAY OTHER GROUPS ARE NOT WORTHY, WE SIMPLY
SUGGEST YOU CHECK ANY AND ALL GROUPS THROUGH THE AVAILABLE STATE SERVICE.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE MADE YOUR DECISION TO DONATE IT IS CRITICAL YOU PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FRAUD. HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS: 1.
NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OVER THE TELEPHONE OR
INTERNET, NEVER. 2.
IF POSSIBLE, CONSIDER GOING TO A REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE ORGANIZATION TO
MAKE YOUR DONATION, REQUEST A RECEIPT INDICATING YOUR CONTRIBUTION. 3.
NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION SUCH AS DATE OF BIRTH, MARITAL
STATUS, EMPLOYMENT, CREDIT CARD NUMBERS AND BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION. 4.
IF YOU ARE SKEPTICAL OF YOUR PHONE CONVERSATION, REQUEST THE CALLER MAIL
YOU PRINTED MATERIALS ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION WHICH YOU CAN THEN CHECK THROUGH
THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
IN
CLOSING, THE KINDNESS EXHIBITED IS OFTEN CARRIED OUT DURING GREAT PERIODS OF
STRESS, SADNESS AND EMOTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BE WARY AS POSSIBLE, TAKE A MOMENT
TO ENSURE YOUR EFFORT MATTERS AND IS REACHING YOUR INTENDED GOAL. IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR COMPLAINTS YOU CAN CALL:
THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
CHARITY HOT LINE (973) 504-6215
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 9AM TO 4PM YOU
CAN ALSO CHECK ORGANIZATIONS ON LINE BY VISITING THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAUS
SITE AT: WWW.GIVE.ORG
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FANWOOD
POLICE 
