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Medical copays reduce health care access in MS prisons; Israel planted explosives in pagers sold to Hezbollah according to official sources; Serving looks with books: Libraries fight 'fast fashion' by lending clothes; Menhaden decline threatens Virginia's ecosystem, fisheries.

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JD Vance calls for toning down political rhetoric, while calls for his resignation grow because of his own comments. The Secret Service again faces intense criticism, and a right to IVF is again voted down in the US Senate.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Holiday Season Scam Alert for Minnesotans

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Monday, December 11, 2017   

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Scammers pounce this time of year because they know it's when people are likely to be generous. Between the holidays and the end of the tax year, Minnesotans field lots of requests for donations.

While most appeals are legitimate, consumer watchdog groups say tens of millions of dollars are lost to scammers every year. Dan Hendrickson, communications director with the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota, advises folks to think before they give.

"You want to watch out for any high-pressure emotional pitches - any situation where you're called by somebody and they're trying to guilt you into making an on-the-spot donation,” Hendrickson said. "Make sure it's an actual charity. Make sure it's not a charity with a similar name to one maybe you're familiar with."

The Better Business Bureau staffs an advice line, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The number to call is 800-646-6222.

Hendrickson said websites like give.org can help people research charities they may be interested in. The Better Business Bureau advises looking for groups where at least 65 percent of donation dollars go to the cause or people you want to help, rather than to administration or overhead.

Hendrickson said scammers are hard to catch, since many are based in call centers overseas. And older people can be especially vulnerable.

"We think anyone can fall victim,” he said. “ But certainly, we know seniors are a highly targeted demographic because a.) they usually have nest eggs, b.) they're a very trusting generation, and c.) they're available."

Consumers are also advised never to give out credit or debit card numbers over the phone or on public Wi-Fi. If you have any doubts about an offer, type the organization’s name and the word "scam" into a search engine.

A list of tips for avoiding fraud is available here.


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