State officials are reminding residents to be careful when making donations to charity this year.
Donors are urged to do their homework before sending money to a charity, because there are scammers who are trying to take advantage of holiday giving.
Officials say there are a number of things to look out for when giving:
- Similar-sounding names: scammers often use names that sound like legitimate charities.
- High-pressure solicitation
- Request for donation by wire transfer or gift card.
The Department of State has an online database of verified charities so you can make sure they are a legitimate organization.