Dartmouth police warn of donation scams
DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WLNE) — The Dartmouth Police Department released some tips to help residents from donating to fraudulent causes on the street.
Chief Brian Levesque said there have been several cases of people trying to solicit donations from drivers at a local intersection.
The chief continued to say that it is illegal for people to walk into traffic to gather money. If observed, police said they will handle the issue on a case-by-case basis.
Police also want to remind that it is also illegal to stop or get out of your vehicle in a way that impedes traffic to make a donation.
The department shared the following tips to help keep your money going to charitable causes:
- Search for complaints in reviews and ratings of a charity
- Look at the charity’s website for information on how donations are used.
- Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation.
- Check out the company with your state consumer protection office or the Better Business Bureau.
- Watch for sentimental claims with few details.
- Be suspicious
More tips on avoiding charity scams can be found at the Federal Trade Commission webpage and USA.gov
