It’s a timely message for the giving season: Beware of fake charities. The Security Summit, a partnership between government agencies and tax professionals, is warning about criminals who set up fraudulent charities to steal “donations” and personal information. The Summit offers several tips for charitable donors, including 1) be suspicious if a so-called charity uses pressure to get you to make an immediate payment, 2) never donate to a charity that requests payment via gift card or by wiring money, and 3) don’t provide any more personal information (such as credit card and Social Security numbers) than is necessary for the transaction. Also, always ask for charities’ tax ID numbers. Contact the Cg Team with questions. © 2022