Generosity at year's end is commendable, but it's also when unscrupulous con games surface to take advantage of those charitable urges.
Make sure you're dealing with an up-front organization by checking with the Better Business Bureau Philanthropic Advisory Service. A bureau spokesman says reports are developed based on inquiries concerning particular charities or groups.
The bureau encourages requests for information about groups not in the advisory service database. Groups that are not charities but often the subject of queries also are listed. An alphabetized list of charities and groups provides access to evaluation conclusions and information on programs. If a group does not meet established Standards for Charitable Solicitations, each infraction is listed and explained.
