The Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry is informing people on how to safely donate money during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
She says asking questions like “where will the money go to directly?”, “who is soliciting your donation?”, and “how much of your donation will be received by the charity?” are good starts to make sure it isn’t a scam.
You can also check with the IRS or Pennsylvania Department of State to see if the charity is registered and if so still do more research. Some charities are registered but fundraising goes towards costs rather than groups in need of support.
Also, never pay with cash and avoid paying with debt cards, credit cards are best. Finally, be cautious of new organizations looking to take advantage of a crisis and scammers pressuring and creating a sense of urgency when asking for donations.
