By Angel Perkins Editor
Christmas is a time for giving and only crooks are as thankful to the public's generosity as the needy. Unfortunately those wishing to make donations should watch closely before handing over any money as many scams are being done all over the nation. Locally, several have already been thwarted but some straggling criminals may still attempt to prey on the heartstrings.

The F. O. P. Lodge 195 and other volunteers of “Shop with a Cop” say they are among the latest target for people trying to scam money from unsuspecting residents and area businesses. Hurshel Hunter, who has headed up the efforts for the last several years, said he received a call from a business asking if they were soliciting money by telephone for the annual event.
Hunter said, “We have some of this every year. It’s very disheartening." He said donations can be placed in any of the 50 containers at area businesses or at WTCA radio.
“We sent out 600 letters asking for donations,” he said.
Hunter said FOP used to solicit by phone, but discontinued the practice.
More disturbing scams presently duping the public include a phone scam where the caller says they are from a bank and that the person's debit or credit card has been suspended. The caller then gives the person a number to call to have straighten out the account, only after the person gives them their credit card number. A Web site scam originating from Canada copies bank Web sites and distributes mass e-mails.
The e-mails claim that consumers who complete an online "bank" survey will receive $90 deposited into their accounts, and then ask for the person's account number. Other e-mail scams include people you've never heard of from country's you know no one from and have never visited saying you have won something, inherited something or could help someone by transferring money or cashing a check for them.
These fake callers can be thwarted if you tell them that they must call your lawyer about any monetary transactions. Another phony deal involves a fraudulent check for a mystery shopper business. Victims are sent and asked to deposit a check into their account, to make purchases and transfer money. The victim loses funds from their accounts through the transfers. A 15-year-old Bourbon girl was one local target for this scam.
Mystery shopper scams cannot be verified simply by calling the number on the check either because the number may be answered by parties involved in the scam.           To prevent being taken advantage of, the Indiana Bankers Association suggests that the public "never donate to a charitable cause over the phone." Instead, they advise, if called, ask the caller to mail you some literature about the charity to look over before you will make any commitment.
Other alert area residents have contacted the local authorities to report parties trying to gain their credit card information, a person trying to get a credit card with someone else's identity and information and an un-approved withdrawal from a bank account by an unknown person in Nigeria. Don Risner of Argos said he had been contacted by persons trying to scam him over the phone,
"They wanted the last four numbers of my social security number and I knew that wasn't right," he said. "They said they got part of it through the mail but needed the rest."    
Being on the cautious side wasn't helpful to Linda Sanders however.
She said a utility company had taken money from a bank account they were not given access to to pay a debt. "I always use the other account for that payment," she explained. "They (her bank) sent me an overdraft notice. You get to the point you're afraid to even use a bank account. I'm still out $800 even after they retrieved $300 of it."
She said a rule of thumb she has had to keep is "if it's too good to be true, it probably is." Sanders additionally advised people to fill out their checks entirely so people cannot add numbers to the end of an amount written.
The IBA also suggests that if contacted by mail, to make sure it details how the money will be used and what percentage of each actual donation goes directly to the charity. By visiting www.charitywatch.org generous donors can prevent their intended monies from going in the pockets of thieves.
Please keep in mind the following:
* Reputable charities don't send unsolicited spam e-mails
* Reputable charities always have a street address (not a post office box) and a phone number
* Resist callers asking for your name, address, account  or credit card numbers
* Donate only by check.
    Some charities do use professional fundraisers. Ask what percentage goes to the charity and if that amount seems too much to you then give directly to the charity.
Also, the IBA reminds donors to remember the difference between the terms “tax exempt” and “tax deductible.” Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t have to pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution from your federal income tax if you include the receipt  with your year-end tax return.
    
Pilot News Staff Writer Carol Anders contributed to this story.