PA Officials Issue Charity Scam Warning Following Orlando Mass Shooting

HARRISBURG, PA (CBS) – America's deadliest mass-shooting in Orlando has people all across the country opening their hearts to victims and their families. Some people have chosen to give blood, companies have offered free flights and many have given donations.

But with the gift of money, often comes the flow of scams.

On Friday, Attorney General Kane issued a statement urging all Pennsylvanians to be cautious with their charitable giving.

"Many Pennsylvanians will want to offer financial support to the people who have been affected by this tragic loss of life," Attorney General Kane said. "It is important for those who give to take the proper precautions to ensure they are donating to reputable organizations."

To combat the problem, the authorities have issued the following guidelines.

• Be cautious when giving to a charity created in response to this specific incident.
• Donate to a charity that has a proven history of dealing with large-scale events and international relief efforts.
• Be wary of charity messages posted on social media. Do your own research to confirm the legitimacy of the charity.
• If you receive a request to donate via text or email, confirm the request is from the charity by contacting its office or visiting its website.
• Beware of look-alike websites. Fraudsters will set up websites that mirror that of a legitimate charity in order to secure your personal financial information.

In addition, Pennsylvania requires charities to register with the state government agency before they can receive charitable donations. Residents may check registration filed with the Department of State by visiting http://www.charities.pa.gov/ or by calling 1-800-732-0999.

If you feel you are a victim of a charity scam, you can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General's Charitable Trusts and Organizations Section at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling 717-783-2853.