Charleston, W.Va. — West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey along with a host of domestic and international partners, kicked off International Charity Fraud Awareness Week on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, with a press conference and proclamation signing.

The international effort offers tips for wise giving with the hope of helping charities and consumers avoid charity fraud. This year’s initiative, which runs through Friday, also features cybersecurity and data security tips for nonprofits.

“Charitable giving is a wonderful way to support many worthy causes,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “However, failing to protect information can lead to identity theft and financial fraud, so it’s important to consider the tips offered by this week’s joint awareness initiative.”

The Attorney General and Secretary of State launched International Charity Fraud Awareness Week were joined by three in-state partners – West Virginia Nonprofit Association, Philanthropy West Virginia and AARP West Virginia – at the event on Monday.

“Charity Fraud Awareness Week is an annual opportunity for us to focus everyone’s attention on the tremendous and positive impact charitable giving has on West Virginia,” Secretary Warner said. “It’s important that we all work together to make sure that donations made by our citizens are made to legitimate and properly registered charities. I am pleased to work with the Attorney General, AARP and leaders of our non-profit business community to keep charity scams out of West Virginia.”

Those concerned about the legitimacy of a specific charity or organization should confirm it is registered to solicit donations in West Virginia. That information can be accessed through the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.

International Charity Fraud Awareness Week strives to help charities and consumers avoid charity fraud and promote wise giving.

West Virginia’s Attorney General and Secretary of State are participating with the National Association of State Charities Officials, the Federal Trade Commission and other U.S. partners, in addition to the Charities Commission for England & Wales, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, New Zealand Charities Service, and the Office of the Scottish Regulator among other non-governmental participants.

Any West Virginian solicited to donate to a charity they think may be fraudulent can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808, the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239 or visit the office online at www.wvago.gov.