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Saturday, March 14, 2009 

Tips For Avoiding Car Donation Scams

If you're considering donating a car to charity, there's always the chance that people will try to scam you. They do this by pretending to be a legitimate charitable organization meanwhile they keep the profits from your donation. Luckily, with a bit of investigation, these fake charities are easy to steer clear of.

Researching the charity you want to donate your car to is essential. Once you've determined which charity you'd like to give to, make sure you perform a quick background check. Give them a call and start asking questions. An early sign of trouble would be any organization that is reluctant to divulge information.

The next important step to follow when taking a closer look at a charity is to make sure that this charitable organization is registered. You can do this by contacting your state's Attorney General or the Internal Revenue Service. Remember that not all states require a legitimate charity to register, so double-check by consulting the Better Business Bureau, who keep their own lists of reputable charities.

Always make sure to ask about what happens with your vehicle once you've donated it. If it's destined to be sold at a wholesale auction, make sure the charity will notify you once it has sold, and tell you for how much. Make sure you do a follow up call about a month after you donate, as you should be entitled to a receipt which can be used for tax deduction purposes.

Be cautious about any kind of solicitation. Fake charities will try to use high pressure sales tactics and try to get your attention through email ads, or phone calls. Some legitimate charities still actually do use this method, but typically it's easy to identify the fakes with a few asked questions. Sometimes so-called non-profit organizations will actually be keeping profits and are not at all related to a real registered charity. If you suspect this to be the case, ask to be placed on their Do Not Call list.

With a bit of care, deciding on a charity to donate your vehicle to can be a very hassle-free and rewarding experience. Just make sure to verify that this charity is in fact reputable and registered, and make a positive contribution for you, the charity, and the rest of society by donating a vehicle.

For more information, see the following site about donating your vehicle to charity.

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