Additional Advice on Charity Scams
- Share via
* The Times is to be commended for the article relating to fraudulent solicitations of charitable contributions (Nov. 26). It was informative and timely.
Unfortunately, at this time of year, the ongoing efforts of con artists seem to escalate as they exploit the seasonal spirit of giving. Here in the consumer protection unit of the district attorney’s office we see a marked increase in the number of complaints and inquiries about the activities of solicitors for charitable contributions.
While the guidelines included in the article certainly will help consumers in evaluating solicitations, it is our experience that merely asking the soliciting caller for information in an attempt to confirm the legitimacy of the organization is usually ineffective.
Con artists involved in this type of activity have become more sophisticated and frequently are ready with additional information.
The better practice is to either wait until some form of written, or other independent, verification can be obtained, or, preferably, give to one’s own favorite charity and altogether avoid responding to any unsolicited telephone or door-to-door requests.
The telephone number of the consumer protection unit is different from the one given in the article. The number is (714) 568-1200.
ROBERT C. GANNON JR.
Supervising Deputy District Attorney
Consumer/Environmental Protection Unit
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
