Sen. Hegeman’s Weekly Column, for the Week of Oct. 21: How to Know When a Charity Is Really a Charity

Over the past few weeks, we have been talking about ways to avoid fraudulent companies and swindlers who call and pretend to be someone they are not. This week, we will continue on a similar path and discuss and issue that affects many of the wonderful people in our part of the state.

Tragedy tends to bring out the best in people. Sometimes, this is the only positive effect of a natural disaster or an unwanted occurrence. Unfortunately, it can also bring out the worst in some folks, and this is when scam artists think they can prey on the most vulnerable among us.

To this end, the Missouri attorney general has put together a program that can help people determine the legitimacy of a charity. The “Check a Charity” page does just that. It lets you type in the name of any charity and find out whether or not it is a real organization. The attorney general’s office also offers tips on giving to a charity.

These combined resources can help people not only after a natural disaster, but also as we get closer to the holiday season. The last thing we want to see happen is someone buy into a scam, both literally and figuratively, and lose their life’s savings for nothing more than being a good person and wanting to help.

These combined resources can help people not only after a natural disaster, but also as we get closer to the holiday season. The last thing we want to see happen is someone buy into a scam, both literally and figuratively, and lose their life’s savings for nothing more than being a good person and wanting to help.

As always, please feel free to call, email or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.