Police Warn Of FOP Charity Scam In Prince William County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA—If someone seeking money for charity claims to be representative of the Fraternal Order of Police, make sure you verify that's really the case. According to Prince William County Police, a scam has been making the rounds in the county recently in which residents are tricked into believing they're giving to the FOP when they're actually giving to a criminal imposter.

Toward that end, police have some tips to make your charitable contributions wind up in the right place:

• Rule out anyone who asks you to send cash, pay with a gift card, or wire money.
• Confirm the exact name of the charity and do some research, especially when donating for the
first time. Search for the name of the charity online — plus the word “complaint” or “scam.”
That’s one way to learn about a charity’s reputation.
• Give to charities you know and trust, with a proven track record. Before you give to any charity,
check them out with the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity
Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.
• Be wary of charities that seem to pop up overnight in connection with a natural disaster or
other tragedy.
• Don’t assume that pleas for help on crowdfunding sites or social media are legitimate. Real
victims’ pictures and stories can easily be misused to con you.
• Before you text to donate, confirm the number on the charity’s website.
• Never click on links or open attachments in e-mails, even if they appear to be from a charity.
You could unknowingly install malware on your computer or be taken to a look-alike website
run by scammers.

Click here for more information.

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