The scamsters are at it again, calling people at home and claiming they're selling children's activities books with the proceeds going to help kids in local hospitals.
They don't. The sales benefit the company making the calls. VIHA has confirmed it gets no benefit and doesn't want people to fall for the pitch.
So how do you avoid being scammed when a telemarketer calls asking you to donate or buy a product or a ticket to some event, either for your own use or to allow a child to go?
Simple. Say no to any telephone request for a charitable contribution. If you're interested, ask them to mail information or suggest a website. If they persist, hang up.
Even when charities are legitimate, telemarketing is generally a wasteful way to donate.
The CBC looked at the issue last year and found the telemarketing companies often kept 50 per cent or more of the money raised.
The B.C. Wheelchair Sports Association's 2009 telemarketing campaign produced $145,600 in donations. Almost 90 per cent of the money -$126,000 -was kept by the Calgary-based telemarketer.
It is good to be a generous donor. It is much better to be a generous, smart donor. And giving in response to a telemarketing call, or door-to-door pitch from a professional fundraising company, is generally not smart. Even if you wish to support the organization, your dollars go much farther if you simply donate directly.
Pick charities doing work you value. Check their websites and the Canada Revenue Agency's useful database of information on registered charities. Your dollars will go much farther, and do much more good.
