{"id":4954,"date":"2024-11-27T16:37:32","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T16:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/?p=4954"},"modified":"2025-01-28T17:49:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T17:49:48","slug":"is-it-legal-december-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/our-world\/is-it-legal-december-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Legal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 2024 Column<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SCAM ALERT #1:<\/strong>
It\u2019s the holiday season, and that means you are going to get emails, text messages, phone calls, and even some door-to-door solicitations asking you to donate to this or that charity. Hopefully, many of the causes for which you are asked to donate will be worthwhile. Well, \u201chope springs eternal,\u201d I guess. The problem for us is that what else springs eternal are scams designed to separate us from our money.
Here are a few of my tips for protecting ourselves from those \u201cplease-donate-money-to-this-or-that-charity\u201d scams:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Never give money when asked through a text message. No exceptions.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Never provide any credit card information to a solicitor over the telephone. No written information, no donation.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Never give money, especially by using your credit card, to someone who shows up at your door.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Never click on an email asking for a donation unless you have verified that it\u2019s a legitimate email for a legitimate charity.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    There are many worthwhile and needy charities, but we simply cannot trust much of what we receive through emails, text messages, phone calls, door-to-door solicitations, etc. We must check, and check, and check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    SCAM ALERT #2:<\/strong>
    The FBI website lists many possible scams. One of them is \u201cnon-delivery\u201d of goods or services that you order online and paid for. Another is where the seller of an item wants you to pay with a gift card.
    Here are ways to protect yourself, all of which you already know, but here are a few reminders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n