Avoid Fraud & Donate Wisely

The Canada Revenue Agency issued a press release on March 31, 2008 advising Canadians to be aware of fraud involving charities.

To avoid giving donations to unscrupulous personal claiming charitable status, confirm the status of the organization by contacting the CRA at -800-267-2384 or checking their website at www.cra.gc.ca/donors, make sure you know who you are donating to, and ensure you receive an official receipt.

Make sure you:

• Only write cheques payable to the charity and not an individual,
• Refuse to donate if you recognize signs of fraud, and
• Report fraud to PhoneBusters, the Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre, at 1-888-495-8501.

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