Report Veterans Charities Engaged in Deceptive Practices

Charities using deceptive tactics to solicit donations, such as claiming you donated last year, or that you promised a donation, when you know you didn't, should be put out of business. If you're considering donating to charity, you don't want to donate charity to groups using deceptive business practices.

• Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance keeps reviews on a number of charities, and filing a copy of your complaint there will cause it to be added to their list of complaints.



• The Consumer Protection Division of your State's Attorney General's Office, and whichever office regulates charities in your state. It's usually the Secretary of State, but some states have different offices. Find the state agency that regulates charities for your state.



• Federal Trade Commission, especially if you believe the caller making the solicitation is most likely from a for-profit fundraising group.



• The IRS, requesting review of the charity's tax-exempt status and reporting deceptive trade practices and possible solicitaion fraud).



• The Office of the Postal Inspector, reporting fraudulent mailing activity if you receive a mail solicitation or a mailed invoice in follow-up to a phone call - check the box that says "charity fraud".



• Rep. Henry Waxman of California is chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which investigated veterans charities in 2007-2008. I would recommend sending copies of your complaints to his office as well, prominently marked "Veterans Charity Fraud."