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Give to Orlando Victims, Not Scammers

The easier it is for you to give, the easier it is for criminals to take.

That’s the unfortunate tact we must take in considering whether to contribute to victims of the Orlando shooting spree.

MANY SITES, MANY QUESTIONS

We have seen multiple GoFundMe sites pop up since the massacre. It’s nearly impossible to discern which are legitimate, since most anyone can post to GoFundMe. The Better Business Bureau cautions consumers that unresearched donations could end up in a criminal’s pockets.

"We are already hearing about click-bait schemes and questionable solicitations," the bureau warned. "Watch out for vague appeals that don’t identify the intended use of funds."

ONE CLEARINGHOUSE

The advocacy group Equality Florida is serving as a clearinghouse of sorts. The registered nonprofit has established a GoFundMe page that has attracted more than 50,000 donors and $2.5 million in contributions.

Visit the page at https://www.gofundme.com/pulsevictimsfund.

It also offers a helpful window of transparency.

"Every penny donated will be correctly and quickly dispersed to the victims and families," the page reads.

Equality Florida said it established the page in response to an outpouring of inquiries.

"We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help," it said in a statement.

Equality Florida states that it will work with National Center for Victims of Crime, which it says deployed funds in both the Chattanooga and Aurora shootings.

TAX CONSEQUENCES

Not all contributions are tax-deductible. The IRS treats donations to individuals and nonprofits differently. If tax benefits are important to you, it is vital that you verify whether the recipient is a registered charity before sending money.

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