Today is �Giving Tuesday� – a day dedicated to charitable giving as the holiday season begins, so here are some tips on how to avoid a scam.�

If you plan on making a donation today or at any point, the Secretary of State�s Office wants to make sure that you�re giving to a registered charity.�

Mississippians donating to those in need this holiday season can research critical financial and other information about charities on the Secretary of State�s website.

�Our citizens are the most giving in the Nation, and many choose to donate this time of year,� Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said. �We want to be a resource to make sure those generous donations reach those who need them and are not subject to fraud.�

General tips for consumers considering donating to a charity include:

Ask for the charity�s name, website, and physical location;
Ask how much of any donation will go to the charitable program you want to support;
Check the Secretary of State�s website to see whether the charity is registered in Mississippi;
Search the charity�s name online with the word �scam� or �complaint.� See what other people say about it;
Check out the charity�s report and ratings at the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and Guidestar;
Use the IRS�s Tax Exempt Organization Search to see if your donation is tax-deductible;
Never pay with cash, a gift card, or by wiring money; and
Consider paying by credit card, but never over the phone, and only after receipt of written information you can verify.

Consumer organizations recommend at least 65 percent of a charity�s total expenses be spent on program activities directly related to the charity�s purpose.

Charities soliciting funds in Mississippi must be registered with the Secretary of State�s Office.� Each year, the Agency publishes a Report on Charitable Organizations in Mississippi.� The report outlines the financial information of charities registered in the State, including the percentage of charitable funds actually spent by a charity for its charitable purpose.

For more information, call the Charities Division at (601) 359-1599 or visit www.sos.ms.gov/charities.

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