<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html lang='en' xml:lang='en' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>
<head>
<title>
IR-2017-137:  Beware of Fake Charity Scams Relating to Hurricane Harvey

</title>
<link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/assets/favicon-5157a809024b7dd3d618037af637e21a7603480a4a045b7714038e6fe99c5698.ico" />
<script type='text/javascript'>
  //<![CDATA[
    var addthis_config = {
      username: 'govdprod',
      ui_email_note: "Thought you would enjoy this.\nShared via GovDelivery.",
      data_track_clickback: true,
      data_use_cookies: false,
      data_use_flash: false,
      ui_hover_direction: -1
    }
    var addthis_share = {
      templates: {twitter: "{{title}} {{url}} via @Granicus"}
    }
  //]]>
</script>
<script src='https://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=govdprod' type='text/javascript'></script>

<link href='https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/1b3dd79' rel='canonical' />
<meta content='text/html; charset=UTF-8' http-equiv='Content-Type' />
<meta content='IR-2017-137:  Beware of Fake Charity Scams Relating to Hurricane Harvey' property='og:title' />
<meta content='article' property='og:type' />
<meta content='https://public.govdelivery.com/assets/transparent-88f14d8977847e3c87b58124930101861b80940fdfef5ef3e42f63fef9b3cb22.gif' property='og:image' />
<meta content='Internal Revenue Service (IRS)' property='og:site_name' />
<meta content='210315575371' property='fb:app_id' />

<link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/assets/subscriber-d967c6258a7d3eaf583759c7c21430ca3f5cbd7314d2eca5e3c15d177ef8929c.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/style.css?v=1422389332" />
<script src="/assets/Public-e2cb6746aba49511b0c61f2b186c580989e0569da84a5a3d251d74506f793de3.js"></script>
<script src="/assets/controller_manifests/AccountBulletins-99c26ad7605c8aeaeff29b8feaf48aa57b21e42d00f307921f23cd7bb7553606.js"></script>

</head>
<body id='shared_bulletin'>
<div id='sticky_nav'>
<div class='menu_content'>
<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_32x32_style" addthis:url="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/1b3dd79">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_twitter"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_google_plusone_share"g:plusone:size="large" g:plusone:count="false"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_email"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_compact"></a>
<a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a>

<span class="subscribe">
  <form id="sub_form" action="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/subscriber/qualify" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="get"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="&#x2713;" /><input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="ekH3euiyUJhcnjuOtKQ5zUr5llH7TA/Yj/JpK98emf6YPqjyO2dvVfeAUZRUT9HT439Z/pXaxdeg3s0TN7hQjQ==" />
<label for="email">Receive Updates</label>
<input type="text" name="email" id="email" placeholder="Enter Email Address" />
<input type="submit" name="commit" value="Go" class="sr-button" />
</form>

<img src="https://content.govdelivery.com/assets/logos/govd-envelope-dark-20px-f7cb83de41ee11fe68a33125cd9e51d9c13a20f59dbe25f05f9c3b44e4f8d65d.png" alt="Govd envelope dark 20px" />

</span>

</div>
<!-- AddThis Button END -->

</div>
</div>

<div class='wide' id='page_margins'>
<div id='page'>
<div class='account_banner'>
<div class='qs_banner'>
<a href='https://www.irs.gov/' target='_blank'>
<img alt='IRS Banner 2' src='/system/images/34026/original/irs_banner_2.jpeg?1364393014' />
</a>
</div>

</div>
<div class='bulletin_display' id='bulletin_content'>
<h1 class='bulletin_subject'>IR-2017-137:  Beware of Fake Charity Scams Relating to Hurricane Harvey</h1>
<span class='dateline rs_skip'>Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent this bulletin at 08/29/2017 02:38 PM EDT</span>
<div class='bulletin_header rs_skip' id='bulletin_header'><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/1b3dd79?reqfrom=share" target="_blank"><img width="83" height="16" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border:0" src="https://public.govdelivery.com/assets/share_this-795413ad3d604760a450815a10e46c8ea06b7315facb759ffdacbc7b7830f87b.gif"></a></p></div>
<div class='bulletin_body' id='bulletin_body'><table style="width: 675px; font-size: 12pt;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #dddddd; padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><img src="https://public.govdelivery.com/system/images/41005/original/irs_banner_671.jpeg" alt="IRS.gov Banner" width="672" height="96" name="logo"></td>
</tr>
<tr align="left" valign="top">
<td colspan="2" bgcolor="#999999">
<table style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100%; color: #ffffff;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">IRS Newswire</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">August 29, 2017</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="width: 675px;" border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="3">
<tbody>
<tr align="left" valign="top">
<td style="background-color: #ccccff; padding-left: 10px; width: 30%; color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: top;">
<h3 style="color: #001e5a;">News Essentials</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/What's-Hot">What's Hot</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/news-releases-for-current-month">News Releases</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-The-Basics">IRS - The Basics</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Guidance">IRS Guidance</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Media-Relations-Offices-Contact-Numbers">Media Contacts</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Facts-&amp;-Figures">Facts &amp; Figures</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Around-the-Nation--%7C--Alrededor-de-la-Naci%C3%B3n">Around The Nation</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/e-News-Subscriptions-2">e-News Subscriptions</a></p>
<hr>
<h3 style="color: #001e5a;">The Newsroom Topics</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Multimedia-Center">Multimedia Center</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/Spanish/Noticias-en-Espa%C3%B1ol">Noticias en Español</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Radio-PSAs">Radio PSAs</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts">Tax Scams</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/The-Tax-Gap">The Tax Gap</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Current-Fact-Sheets">Fact Sheets</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Tax-Tips">IRS Tax Tips</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Information-for-Members-of-the-U.S.-Armed-Forces">Armed Forces</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Latest-News">Latest News Home</a></p>
<hr>
<h3 style="color: #001e5a;">IRS Resources</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Compliance-&amp;-Enforcement">Compliance &amp; Enforcement</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1">Contact My Local Office</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/Filing/Filing-Options">Filing Options</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/Forms-&amp;-Pubs">Forms &amp; Pubs</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/Help-&amp;-Resources/Tools-&amp;-FAQs/FAQs-for-Individuals/Frequently-Asked-Tax-Questions-&amp;-Answers">Frequently Asked Questions</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/News-&amp;-Events">News</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Advocate-Service-6">Taxpayer Advocate</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Where-to-File-Paper-Tax-Returns-With-or-Without-a-Payment">Where to File</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-New-Media-1" title="IRS Social Media">IRS Social Media</a></p>
<hr>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">
<h3 style="color: #001e5a;">Issue Number:    IR-2017-137</h3>
<h3 style="color: #001e5a;">
<a name="Fifteenth"></a>Inside This Issue</h3>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Beware of Fake Charity Scams Relating to Hurricane Harvey</strong></span></p>
<p>WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today issued a warning about possible fake charity scams emerging due to Hurricane Harvey and encouraged taxpayers to seek out recognized charitable groups for their donations.</p>
<p>While there has been an enormous wave of support across the country for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, people should be aware of criminals who look to take advantage of this generosity by impersonating charities to get money or private information from well-meaning taxpayers. Such fraudulent schemes may involve contact by telephone, social media, e-mail or in-person solicitations.</p>
<p>Criminals often send emails that steer recipients to bogus websites that appear to be affiliated with legitimate charitable causes. These sites frequently mimic the sites of, or use names similar to, legitimate charities, or claim to be affiliated with legitimate charities in order to persuade people to send money or provide personal financial information that can be used to steal identities or financial resources.</p>
<p>IRS.gov has the tools people need to quickly and easily check the status of charitable organizations.</p>
<p>The IRS cautions people wishing to make disaster-related charitable donations to avoid scam artists by following these tips:</p>
<ul>
<li>Be sure to donate to recognized charities.</li>
<li>Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. Some phony charities use names or websites that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate organizations. The IRS website at IRS.gov has a search feature, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-select-check">Exempt Organizations Select Check</a>, through which people may find qualified charities; donations to these charities may be tax-deductible.</li>
<li>Don’t give out personal financial information — such as Social Security numbers or credit card and bank account numbers and passwords — to anyone who solicits a contribution. Scam artists may use this information to steal a donor’s identity and money.</li>
<li>Never give or send cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the donation.</li>
<li>Consult IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/index.html">Publication 526</a>, Charitable Contributions, available on IRS.gov. This free booklet describes the tax rules that apply to making legitimate tax-deductible donations. Among other things, it also provides complete details on what records to keep.</li>
</ul>
<p>Taxpayers suspecting fraud by email should visit IRS.gov and search for the keywords “<a href="https://www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing">Report Phishing</a>.”</p>
<p>More information about tax scams and schemes may be found at IRS.gov using the keywords “scams and schemes.” Details on available relief can be found on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/uac/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster relief</a> page on IRS.gov.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="#Fifteenth">Back to Top</a><strong> </strong></p>
<hr>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;">
<p>Thank you for subscribing to the IRS Newswire, an IRS e-mail service.</p>
<p>If you know someone who might want to subscribe to this mailing list, please forward this message to them so they can <a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Subscribe-to-IRS-Newswire">subscribe</a>.</p>
<p>This message was distributed automatically from the mailing list IRS Newswire. <strong>Please Do Not Reply To This Message.</strong></p>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<div class='bulletin_footer rs_skip' id='bulletin_footer'><hr>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/subscriber/new?preferences=true">Subscriber Preferences Page</a>. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact <a href="https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/">subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1em;">This service is provided to you at no charge by the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">Internal Revenue Service (IRS)</a>.</p></div>
</div>
<script type='text/javascript'>
new GD.view.AccountBulletinsShow().init();
</script>

</div>
<div class='powered-by' id='footer'>
Powered by
<br />
<a href='http://www.govdelivery.com/'>
<img alt="Powered By GovDelivery" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/assets/logos/govd-logo-dark-191d8c132e92636d2d67f33aa6576c8f1f8245552c047acb81d0e5c7094def56.png" />
</a>
</div>
</div>
<script type='text/javascript'>
  //<![CDATA[
    var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
    document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
  //]]>
</script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
  //<![CDATA[
    try{
    var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-17133996-1");
    pageTracker._setCustomVar(1, "accountCode", "USIRS", 3);
    pageTracker._setCustomVar(2,  "bulletinId", "28564857", 3);
    pageTracker._setCustomVar(3,    "pageType", "Landing", 3);
    pageTracker._setVisitorCookieTimeout(0);
    pageTracker._setSessionCookieTimeout(0);
    pageTracker._setCampaignCookieTimeout(0);
    pageTracker._trackPageview();
    } catch(err) {}
  //]]>
</script>

</body>
</html>
