Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas Charity Fraud and Eight More Days Until Christmas


December 16th 2011 is here, 12/16/11, which means there are only nine more days until Christmas, which means only eight more shopping days until Christmas. It is Friday as well, a word that has been tainted forever thanks in part to a certain song. Never the less, with the work day being done and perhaps many people getting right out of school or work, perhaps for some vacation time, it would be an ideal time to shopping.



Crunch time has in fact arrived. There are just going to be only eight more days until Christmas shopping. Which means, shopping online is going to be something that might mean that you’re very unlikely to get your gifts until a couple of days before Christmas. So really unless you pay out of your nose for overnight shipping, this might be one of the last days that you can shop online.

The Christmas season is a time for giving, which sadly means there is a time for people to exploit that. Scam artists don’t take a holiday and sadly, they are going to try and exploit our more generous nature this holiday season. There are a number of reputable charities that you can donate money, clothes, and toys to this holiday seasons.

However be very weary of people who are trying to come to you for charitable donations this holiday season. Especially when you receive things from the mail, whether it be e-mail or good old fashioned snail or postal mail. Or if it is over the phone, if someone asks you for donations, then it should be regarded with some suspicion.

Most reputable charities will wait for you to come to them. They will not hassle you. Charitable donations are to be done out of the goodness of your heart after all, not because they guilt tripped you into doing it.

There is a lot of charity fraud during the holiday seasons and people are not what they claimed. Often times they may start asking for personal information, which obviously is a phishing scheme, something that you should regard with great distrust.

Make charity donations face to face but don’t trust those who mail or call to try and pressure you into donating for the Christmas season to be on the level. It is just common sense, just as it is common sense for you to hopefully wrap up your Christmas shopping by the end of the week, if you hadn’t done it already.

If you have something to spare, then do donate, even if it is just five or ten dollars but be smart and look into the charities. 

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