Don’t let spirit of the season defeat good sense
It’s time to harden your heart — at least a little.
That may seem like strange advice at this time of year, but for those of you making year-end donations to favorite causes, you want to ensure your money makes the biggest difference possible.
And that requires some research before sending a gift. Resist pressure to give on the spot, whether it comes from a telemarketer or through an online appeal, and be wary of heart-wrenching requests.
“A lot of people don’t want to say, `no’ over the phone,” says Alanna Goodman, an investigator in the state Attorney General’s Office. “They feel bad.”
She suggests first deciding which causes you want to support, so you can tell solicitors upfront if they’re barking up the wrong tree. It’s easier, that way, to say no and to resist emotional impulses.
Before you get down to the research, make sure you have the accurate name of the charity. Some scammers will try to lure people into giving by slightly altering the name of a well-known group — claiming to be the “U.S. Red Cross” rather than the genuine “American Red Cross,” for example.
If you make a pledge over the phone, have the caller send you written information.
You can then start by checking the state AG’s register at https://secure.nmag.gov/ CharitySearch/. Charitble groups located in New Mexico or raising money here must submit their latest audit, financial information with detailed budget figures and tax forms — all available on the site.
If you don’t find the group among the upwards of 7,000 listed, it’s possible the group is registered under one of its programs. Contact the AG’s office toll-free at 1-844-255-9210 or at the Albuquerque office, 505-717-3500.
Next, go to one of the well-regarded and comprehensive sites that operate nationally: the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, give.org, Charity Navigator at charitynavigator.org and CharityWatch, www.charitywatch.org/ home.
Here are guidelines charities must meet to be accredited by the BBB:
At least 65 percent of total expenses
■ should be spent on program activities, rather than overhead, salaries and fundraising. Groups that spend 75 percent or more on their programs are considered “highly efficient” by CharityWatch.
The group should spend no more than
■ 35 percent on fund-raising.
Financial statements that show detailed
■ expenses should be available to anyone upon request.
Charities are not required to provide the information needed to be on the BBB list, but consider it a red flag if they don’t do so.
New Mexico lawyers, watch for a phishing scheme that comes in the form of an email about a supposed disciplinary complaint and a deadline for responding to it.
The email, which is hitting inboxes around the country, tells lawyers to click on a link or attachment to see the complaint. Doing so will unleash a virus that in some cases may download ransomware and hold the computer hostage, according to a warning sent Thursday by William D. Slease, chief disciplinary counsel for the state Supreme Court.
The fraudulent email may have these words, in some fashion, in the subject line: “Bar Complaint.”
The state’s Disciplinary Board does not send initial notice of a complaint by email. Instead it will come by regular mail. If a lawyer fails to respond, a second letter may be sent by both regular and email. The email will normally be from twilliams@nmdisboard.org and will state in the subject line “Disciplinary Complaint by [complainant’s name],” Slease said in the alert. Ellen Marks is assistant business editor at the Albuquerque Journal. Contact her at emarks@ abqjournal.com or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the state Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210.