Be aware of fake charities and scams during Giving Day

Today is Giving Tuesday and while most people truly have your best interest at heart there are scammers and fake charities waiting to take your money and steal your information.

Thomas Goldsworthy, a captain with the Biloxi Police Department, shared a few tips to keep everyone safe this giving Tuesday.

If a person calls over the phone requesting money, do not donate. Always check out a charity before you donate and you should not feel pressured to give money immediately.

Also, you shouldn’t work with charities that ask for donations by giving numbers from a gift card or by wiring money. “If you have a charity that you verify it’s that actual charity that you want to donate, you go to their website that you verified is their website and do the donation through their website. Don’t ever, if they are calling you asking for information, don’t ever provide your information over the phone.”

The safest way to pay is by credit card or check, but only after researching the charity.