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Election 2024 - close races to decide control of US Congress; Alabama felony voting ban leaves thousands disenfranchised as polls open; Glynn County under watch as key Election Day player; PA voting report: Strengthening election integrity amid potential disruptions.

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Philadelphia's District Attorney says the city is prepared for any election violence, doctors advise about how to handle Election Stress Disorder, and Oregon has a high number of women in government.

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A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Holiday Giving: "Shopping Smart" for a Reputable Charity

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Friday, November 29, 2013   

PHOENIX – Today millions of Americans will venture out to big and small retailers in search of the best deal for their holiday gift giving, and experts advise them to have the same diligence when it comes to picking a charity.

According to AARP, older Americans are more likely to receive charitable solicitations than any other group, and not all requests are legitimate, warns Doug Shadel, author of AARP's "Outsmarting the Scam Artists."

"There's a lot of charitable solicitations going on out there that really tug at the heartstrings, whether it's disabled veterans or anything having to do with disasters, and so you really just got to be careful about that," he cautions.

Shadel advises seniors and others to be cautious of charities with names similar to better-known organizations.

You can also request written information, avoid giving cash and get a receipt for any donation.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud every year.

Shadel also recommends asking the person requesting the donation more about how the money is used and how much goes to operating costs versus the actual cause the group claims to serve.

"A lot of times, charitable solicitors will try and get you into kind of a heightened emotional state around their charity,” he explains. “The best way to avoid that is at the beginning of every year, come up with your own charitable giving plan."

To receive alerts on the latest scams and schemes, people can sign up for the AARP Fraud Watch Network on the organization's website.




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