The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulates charities registered under the Income Tax Act.

To protect yourself from fraud, the CRA recommends that you follow the tips below before donating to a charity.

Learn & Confirm

• To Consult the CRA Charities Listings  Click Here to confirm that a charity is registered with the CRA.
• Confirm that you will receive an official donation receipt if you want to claim a tax credit.
• Beware of schemes that promise you tax savings greater than your cost, thus allowing you to "profit" from donating to the registered charity.

Take Action

• Write cheques payable to the charity, not an individual.
• Make sure that your on-line donations are secure
• Refuse to donate if there are signs of fraud, such as inappropriate pressure to give immediately or being offered a receipt for more than you actually donate.
• Report fraud to PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501.  PhoneBusters is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre managed on a tripartite basis by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Competition Bureau Canada.

Be an informed donor!

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Information supplied by the CRA 2010 Calendar.