Por Verano Stephan

Como su fiscal de distrito, me comprometo a aumentar la comunicación y la accesibilidad entre la oficina del fiscal de distrito y ustedes, la comunidad. Una forma en que lo he estado haciendo es a través de esta columna mensual, donde brindo consejos para el consumidor sobre asuntos de seguridad pública.

The holidays often bring out the best of us, prompting many to adopt a family in need or to donate to a charity. This spirit of caring is what makes us a generous community. Many Californians are giving to charities assisting wildfire victims or vulnerable immigrants this year. Unfortunately, sometimes sham organizations posing as legitimate charities are looking to take advantage of your kindness.

In this time of giving, be sure you know who you’re dealing with before you give.

Here’s what you should consider before donating:

Verify the charity is registered and in good standing in the State of California bit.ly/2Rl8ep6

Consider the charity’s rating and bona fides – charitywatch.org and the Better Business Bureau are great sources of information on charities

• Verify the name of the charity and be aware of name rip-off scams –– bit.ly/2CBEtbH
• Consider the charity’s mission and purpose
• Do not use debit cards to make donations online

If you find you’ve been scammed:

• Report the crime to the California Attorney General
• Report the scam to the Better Business Bureau
• Request the return of your funds
• Document the payments made for purposes of proving the loss
• Request a chargeback if payment was made by credit card

If you’ve spotted a scam charity, report it to: California Attorney General – Charitable Trusts Division bit.ly/2AgA4cq

If you are considering donating to a crowdfunding site, remember that the sites may not have fully vetted the individuals asking for assistance. It would be more safe to give to people you know. The same goes for third-party recommendations you may come across when scrolling through the internet. They may not have researched the organizations either. You can research charities and relief organizations on your own at give.org.

The DA’s Consumer Protection Unit is composed of deputy district attorneys, investigators and paralegals dedicated to protecting consumers and law abiding businesses from fraudulent or unfair business practices. To report a consumer complaint, you can call 619-531-3507 or email [email protected].

On behalf of our entire team at the District Attorney’s Office, which is dedicated to building safe and healthy communities, we wish you a joyful and safe holiday season.

— La fiscal de distrito Summer Stephan ha dedicado más de 28 años a servir a la justicia ya las víctimas de delitos como fiscal. Es líder nacional en la lucha contra los delitos sexuales y la trata de personas y en la creación de soluciones de justicia penal inteligentes y justas y prácticas de justicia restaurativa que tratan las causas subyacentes de la adicción y las enfermedades mentales y que evitan que los jóvenes sean encarcelados.