TRENTON — Attorney General Peter C. Harvey today cautioned New Jersey residents to be wary of con artists who fraudulently pose as representatives of charitable organizations and seek donations for their own use.

"The holiday season is a time when many residents make charitable donations to aid the needy and less fortunate among us. But even during the holidays, when good will and compassion abound, there are con artists at work,"Attorney General Harvey said. "We urge people, if they are uncertain, to call the Charities Registration Section of our Division of Consumer Affairs."

By law, charities soliciting donations in New Jersey must register annually and file financial data.

"If the charity is not registered, no one can legally solicit donations on its behalf," Harvey said.

Consumer Affairs maintains a Charitable Registration Directory of approximately 20,000 charitable organizations and 250 professional fund-raising firms that are active in New Jersey. The database can be found on the Consumer Affairs web site, http://www.njconsumeraffairs.com.

The warning signs of a potential charities scam include:

• Being pressured to make an immediate donation via credit card;
  
• An offer of a gift or prize in return for your donation;
  
• A "sob story" about why your donation is needed; and
  
• An offer to have a messenger or delivery service come to your home to pick up your check or cash donation.

If interested in making a donation, consumers can ask for additional information about the charity to be mailed to them. For example, consumers should ask the charity’s representative how much of the donation is allocated to administrative expenses and how much is awarded to the cause for which the donation is being solicited. Make a note of the answer. If a charity misrepresents its administrative costs, it can be sued for fraud.

Also, when making a donation, consumers should make a check out in the charity’s name, not to "cash," and record the date and amount of the donation.

"Americans are a generous and caring people, donating over $200 billion annually to charities for a variety of causes," Attorney General Harvey said. "Our Division of Consumer Affairs stands ready to help New Jersey residents make informed choices about charitable contributions."

In addition to the website, the Charities Registration Section can be contacted at 973-504-6215 for information and assistance.

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