SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With the holiday season in full swing, California Attorney General Rob Bonta wants to remind the public to be extra mindful of online scams that surge during this time of the year.
What You Need To Know
- According to the FTC, consumers lost $10 billion to scams in 2023
- Attorney General Rob Bonta encourages the public to give back this holiday season, but to be cautious when making a donation
- Tips on donating safely include checking the organization’s registration status and never sharing personal information in response to a charitable solicitation
- The Attorney General’s office oversees charities and professional fundraisers to make sure they’re in good standing
Bonta recently volunteered at a respite center in Sacramento where he encouraged other Californians to pay it forward with their time or by making a charitable donation to those in need.
“It’s such an important spirit — the spirit of giving, of serving, of helping our community, and of lifting others up,” Bonta said.
The attorney general volunteered his time by serving coffee and making sandwiches for members of the homeless community that frequent one of Midtown HART’s respite centers.
Midtown HART is a nonprofit organization that runs four respite centers in Sacramento and serves more than 400 people experiencing homelessness each week. The nonprofit has over 50 volunteers that help provide food and supported services for people experiencing homelessness.
“We have no salary people, no employees, we’re all volunteers. We really rely on donations and generosity from the churches that provide us the spaces to host these respite centers,” said Cory Copper, CEO of Midtown HART.
One of the attorney general’s roles is to regulate charitable organizations to make sure they’re in good standing. The AG’s website has a search tool that allows you to see which nonprofits are operating under the law.
Midtown HART is one of the thousands of organizations that are listed on the California DOJ’s website.
Bonta says it’s important for donors to be cautious when donating this season to avoid getting scammed. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost $10 billion to scams.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of [scams] out there. It’s changing all the time. Artificial intelligence is being used now, phishing scams, text scams, so you always have to protect yourself. Don’t click on links that you don’t know who they’re from,” Bonta noted.
Other tips include being cautious of fake websites and emails, being careful when giving by text or QR codes, and protect your identity by never giving out your social security or credit card number in response to a charitable solicitation.
Billy Gray, who’s experiencing homelessness in Sacramento, said he’s grateful for nonprofits like Midtown HART that help provide him with food and a warm place to be for a few hours of the day.
“I thank God for them and for helping me… I got no family left,” he said.
Gray adds he’s especially grateful for all the volunteers who have helped make this season a little brighter for him.
“I got a full belly, and I got a nice shirt and I got a pair of pants [too], so I’m thankful for that,” Gray added.