Money in Your Pockets: Ahead of January 1, 2025 Start Date for First-in-the-Nation Paid Prenatal Leave, Governor Hochul Announces New Campaign to Mobilize Eligible New Yorkers

Governor Hochul Fought To Pass the Nation’s First-Ever Paid Prenatal Leave Policy, Helping Pregnant Women Facing Economic Challenges

As Paid Prenatal Leave Policy Takes Effect On January 1, 2025, State Unveils Public Awareness Campaign To Notify Eligible New Yorkers

Under Governor Hochul’s Leadership, New York Has Taken Major Steps To Improve Affordability for Working Families

Governor Kathy Hochul kicked off a statewide campaign to raise awareness of New York’s first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave policy, which takes effect on January 1, 2025. This nation-leading policy, proposed in Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State and signed into law in April, gives workers the ability to take paid leave for any pregnancy-related medical appointments. In the past year alone, Governor Hochul has made New York more affordable for working families through investing $1.8 billion in child care, delivering $2.3 billion in property tax relief, brokering a landmark affordable housing deal and more.

“No pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up — and that’s why I pushed to create the nation’s first paid prenatal leave policy,” Governor Hochul said. “From raising the minimum wage to investing in affordable child care, we’re making New York the best and most affordable place to raise a family.”

Led by the State’s Department of Labor, New York’s statewide public awareness campaign is aimed at promoting New York State’s groundbreaking Paid Prenatal Leave policy. The campaign will officially kick off with the unveiling of subway ads. The goal of the awareness campaign is to educate New Yorkers and businesses about the new law and to remind pregnant women in New York State that they never have to choose between a paycheck and prenatal care.

Additional campaign efforts will include social media outreach, a dedicated webpage, newsletters, a virtual media tour with New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, and collaboration with various stakeholders and influencers to raise awareness throughout 2025.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “With Paid Prenatal Leave, New York is not only taking care of pregnant women, but also future generations of our workforce. I applaud Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to New York State families.”

Effective January 1, 2025, any privately employed pregnant New Yorker will now be able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care. The New York State Department of Labor estimates that about 130,000 pregnant women per year will be eligible for this benefit, with about 65,800 of those being hourly workers.

Pregnancy-related health care includes:

• Physical examinations
• Medical procedures
• Monitoring
• Testing
• Discussions with a health care provider needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy
• Fertility treatment
• End of pregnancy care

The paid prenatal leave benefits are in addition to New York State Paid Family Leave, existing employer-provided leave and existing sick leave benefits, ensuring workers can receive the health care needed to address all pregnancy related care to create healthy outcomes without jeopardizing their employment or finances. The law applies to all private employers in New York State, with no minimum employee threshold, and is applicable to both full-time and part-time employees.

As New York’s first mom Governor, Governor Hochul has continued to build on the state’s commitment to maternal health care and supporting families. In addition to paid prenatal leave, as part of her broader plan to improve maternal and infant mortality, the Governor established 12 weeks of paid parental leave benefits for more than 80 percent of the state workforce, extended postpartum coverage for up to a full year for Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollees, established statewide Medicaid coverage for doulas, created the state’s first doula directory, and has taken steps to eliminate cost-sharing for certain pregnancy-related benefits for those enrolled in the state’s Essential Plan or Qualified Health Plans.

New York's publicly funded child care system — and the new, online application launched in July — is part of the Governor’s ongoing effort to make child care more affordable, accessible and equitable for New York families. Governor Hochul has improved access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) by raising the child care income eligibility limit to the federal maximum, capping families' out-of-pocket child care costs, and increasing State reimbursement rates to child care programs. The enacted 2024-25 state budget more than doubled funding forCCAP to $1.8 billion, and in 2023, Governor Hochul also announced a combined $100 million commitment in capital grants for child care center construction and business tax credits for workplace-based child care expansion to address a critical shortage of child care supply in New York State.

Justice Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Sanctioned Oligarch’s U.S. Music Studio Sale Proceeds

 

A civil forfeiture complaint was filed for $3.4 million in proceeds from the sale of a music studio in Burbank, California. The complaint alleges that the proceeds, which are beneficially owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, are the proceeds of sanctions violations. An indictment charging Deripaska with sanctions violations had been unsealed on Sept. 29, 2022, and Deripaska remains at large.

“As the allegations in the complaint once again demonstrate, those who have illicitly accumulated great wealth in support of lawlessness and international chaos invariably turn to the safety and stability of the United States’ rule of law principles in order to preserve their ill-gotten gains. It is predictable, hypocritical, and illegal,” said Co-Director Michael Khoo of Task Force KleptoCapture. “We are nearly three years into Russia’s unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine, but today’s actions show that Task Force KleptoCapture remains vigilant and fully engaged in its mission to protect the American financial system against the abuses of criminal actors.”

“This filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against over $3 million in illicit proceeds of Oleg Deripaska exemplifies this office’s commitment to utilizing all available legal remedies to enforce our critical sanctions program,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “We remain committed to piercing the opaque financial networks utilized by sanctioned oligarchs attempting to illegally transact business in U.S. dollars.”

“As alleged, Oleg Deripaska, an OFAC Specially Designated National, through a series of companies and associates attempted to earn over $3 million in proceeds from the sale of a California-based music studio,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy of the FBI. “This forfeiture filing shows the FBI’s commitment to stopping individuals from obfuscating their activities to violate sanctions. The FBI will continue to enforce the national security laws of the United States and will ensure any violation of these laws and sanctions is punished accordingly.”

According to the court documents, on April 6, 2018 (the Designation Date), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Oleg Deripaska as a Specially Designated National (SDN) in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Deripaska was sanctioned for his support of the Russian government and for his activity in the Russian energy sector. On or about the same date, OFAC also designated Basic Element Limited, EN+ Group and other entities for being owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, Deripaska.

On Sept. 29, 2022, an indictment returned by a grand jury sitting in the Southern District of New York was unsealed, charging Deripaska and his associates Olga Shriki and Natalia Mikhaylovna Bardakova with a conspiracy to violate sanctions.

As alleged in the indictment, for over four years after Deripaska was sanctioned in 2018, and in violation of those sanctions, Deripaska paid Shriki to provide various services for his benefit in the United States. These services included the sale of a music studio in Burbank, California, in 2019, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of other services to aid in Deripaska’s efforts to have two of his children be born in the United States in 2020 and 2022, and to purchase goods for Deripaska from the United States.

Prior to his designation by OFAC, in or about 2008, Deripaska, through a series of shell companies, acquired the music studio for over $3 million. The direct owner of the studio was an entity named Ocean Studios California LLC, which held a bank account at Wells Fargo (the Ocean Studios Account).

Between in or about 2013 and in or about 2018, Shriki lived in the United States and worked for Deripaska’s entity Basic Element in its Manhattan office. Before and after the designation date, Shriki and Deripaska’s cousin Pavel Ezubov, among others, helped to operate and fund the music studio on behalf of Deripaska, and made clear that Deripaska was the ultimate decisionmaker with regard to the music studio.

In or about July 2018, approximately three months after OFAC designated Deripaska as an SDN, Shriki created a consulting business named Global Consulting Services LLC (GCS). Through GCS, Shriki coordinated with associates of Deripaska, including Ezubov and Bardakova, to continue providing services to and for the benefit of Deripaska and to continue receiving funds from Deripaska or entities controlled by Deripaska. GCS opened a bank account at a bank in Manhattan. Between August 2018 and September 2019, the GCS account received wires totaling over $500,000 from two entities associated with Deripaska, one of which entered into a separate agreement with an indicted co-conspirator to manage other Deripaska properties abroad after the designation date.

Beginning in July 2019, the Ocean Studios account received approximately $69,000 of transfers from Shriki’s GCS account, which in turn was funded by overseas accounts tied to Deripaska, as noted above.

In or about June 2019, Shriki effectuated a sale of the contents of the music studio for more than $500,000. In December 2019, more than a year after the designation date, while employed by Deripaska, Shriki assisted with the sale of the music studio by Ocean Studios California LLC in various ways, such as preparing the property for sale, coordinating with the accounting firm for the music studio, communicating with the real estate broker to approve the sale, facilitating the payment of outstanding taxes and bills for the music studio, signing over the property deed, and liquidating the other assets in the music studio. The music studio sale resulted in net proceeds of over $3 million, which were deposited in the Ocean Studios account.

During 2020, while Shriki was employed by Deripaska and continued to perform services for Deripaska, Shriki requested that an accounting firm transfer the proceeds from the sale of the music studio to a bank account in Russia in the name of a company that funded the music studio’s accounts after the designation date — or, in the alternative, requested that the accounting firm add Shriki as a signatory on the bank account for the music studio so that Shriki could effectuate the transfer of funds on behalf of the owner. The firm declined to effectuate the wire transfer itself.

In or about March 2021, Wells Fargo made the determination to block the Ocean Studios account and the funds on deposit due to Ocean Studios account’s relationship with Deripaska. The blocked funds subject to the complaint amount to approximately $3,435,676 plus accruing interest.

The FBI is investigating the case. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs assisted in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vladislav Vainberg for the Southern District of New York is litigating the case.

On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that, beginning in 2014, the U.S. has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Task Force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

Attorney General James Releases Annual “Pennies for Charity” Report

 

New Report Shows Charitable Giving Campaigns Raised Nearly $1.5 Billion in 2023, An Increase of $5.8 Million from 2022

Professional Fundraisers Retained 17 Percent of All Charitable Campaign Donations, Down From 23 Percent in 2022

In advance of the holiday season, New York Attorney General Letitia James released her annual “Pennies for Charity: Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers” report. The report analyzes data from 2023 charitable fundraising campaigns submitted to the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Charities Bureau by professional fundraisers to protect New Yorkers’ wallets and ensure both donors and charities who choose to work with fundraisers have all the information they need to make informed decisions. The report provides guidance and tips for New York donors, examines trends in the nonprofit sector, and shares details about fundraisers’ performance.

"New Yorkers have a proud tradition of giving and they deserve to know that their hard-earned donations are being used responsibly,” said Attorney General James. “I encourage everyone to consult my office’s tips for charitable giving before making donations this holiday season, and my office will continue to protect donors and support the critical work of nonprofit and charitable organizations across our state.”

Professional fundraisers are outside, for-profit contractors often hired by charities to run campaigns. This year’s report found that in 2023, professional fundraisers received nearly a fifth of every dollar donated to the charities that hired them — a total of more than $261 million in fees and expenses. An analysis of 581 campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers in 2023 found that charities received 83 percent of donations, a notable increase from the 77 percent return in 2022.

New York is home to many diverse charitable organizations and institutions, with more than 98,000 charities registered with the OAG Charities Bureau. Many charities choose to contract with for-profit professional fundraisers, who can bring expertise in raising money from a variety of donor groups. Professional fundraisers must register with the Charities Bureau and report on their charitable campaigns, including the campaigns’ earnings and expenses. The 2024 Pennies for Charity report is based on analysis of professional fundraisers’ 2023 financial results.

The report found that in 2023, New Yorkers’ charitable giving increased by $5.8 million from 2022. There were also nine more charitable fundraising campaigns in 2023 than there were in 2022. Other report findings include: 

• In 46 percent of the campaigns, charities received less than 50 percent of funds raised, with professional fundraisers retaining the rest. 
• In 16 percent of the campaigns, expenses exceeded revenue and cost charities more than $26 million. While the number of such campaigns decreased from last year’s Pennies for Charity report, the total cost for charities more than doubled from the $11 million reported in 2022.

The report and the searchable Pennies for Charity database containing the results of specific campaigns are posted on the Charities Bureau website.

The report also includes tips for donors to follow before donating over the phone, by mail, or online to ensure that their contributions reach the causes they intend to support. Important tips to keep in mind include:  

• If you are contacted by a telemarketer, ask questions to make an informed decision. New York law requires telemarketers soliciting for charities to make certain disclosures to potential donors and prohibits them from making false, misleading, or deceptive statements to contributors. Telemarketers are required to tell potential donors their names, which professional fundraiser employs them, and if the telemarketer is getting paid. Donors may also ask what percentage of their donation will go to the fundraiser for fees and expenses.
• If you receive a direct mail charitable appeal, verify the soliciting organization. Does the organization have a name that sounds like a well-known charity? Double-check — is it the one you think it is? Does the mailing claim to follow up on a pledge that you do not remember making? Does it clearly describe the programs that the charity plans to fund with your donation?
• If you are donating online, do your research first. Donating online or via an app is convenient for donors and can be cost-effective for a charity. But before hitting “send,” donors should check whether a campaign is legitimate.
• Some online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes do not obtain permission from charities, or vet those charities that use their service. Donors should only give to campaigns conducted by people they know. Donors also should check what fees they will be charged and make sure that the charity has given its permission for the use of its name or logo. The charity’s site or the charity should confirm that the charity has approved the campaign.
• When donating online, make sure the website is secure. The web address should start with “https.” Unless the charity uses a separate payment site, the web address should match that of the organization that will receive the donation.
• Be wary of email solicitations that ask you to click a link or open attachments. These could be phishing scams that try to trick you into giving out your credit card number, Social Security number, or other confidential information.
• Use the OAG Pennies for Charity database to review a charity’s fundraising track record. It will show you what percentage of a professional fundraiser’s campaign went to the charity. If a charity frequently receives only a small percentage of funds raised, you may want to look further into how well that charity manages its fundraising and accomplishes its mission. You can also use OAG’s searchable registry to look up charities' financial reports.
• More information about OAG’s Charities Bureau and organizations it regulates may be found online. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work or that a scam is taking place, please contact OAG’s Charities Bureau at Complaints@ag.ny.gov  or (212) 416-8401.

NYC Department of Environmental Protection Launches Program to Upgrade Automatic Water Meter Reading Devices Citywide

 

Upgrades, Beginning in Greenpoint Neighborhood, Will Ensure That Property Owners Receive Real Time Information About Their Water Use to Help Conserve Water; Project Will Also Ensure Reliable, Accurate Water Bills

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the start of a program to upgrade more than 600,000 Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices across the city over the next three years. The AMR device is the small gray box attached to the exterior of a property that wirelessly transmits water consumption readings from the water meter to DEP. This work will begin in the Greenpoint neighborhood and the upgrades to the existing AMR devices will provide a number of key benefits including:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Customers can access detailed consumption data online to understand their water use.
• Improved Leak Detection: Faster identification and response to leaks, reducing water loss.
• Enhanced Customer Service: Consistent water use readings translate to better overall service quality.

The upgrade program is mandatory for all property owners and DEP will perform the work at no charge. Most AMR devices are located on the exterior of the property so no appointments will be necessary to complete the upgrade. Residents may see DEP technicians and/or contractors approach their property and walk the perimeter of the building to identify the location of the AMR device. The DEP technicians or contractors will be clearly identified with DEP logos on their uniforms and will produce proper identification, including a DEP ID card, upon request. They will travel in vehicles with DEP markings and will never ask for payment.

Property owners are asked to:

• Ensure the area around the AMR device is clear and accessible and trim back bushes so technicians can easily access the AMR device.
• Bring any pets inside while technicians are working at the property.
• Look out for notifications regarding installation timelines.

Technicians may move garbage cans or open unlocked gates to access the AMR device if needed. Property owners must allow DEP staff or contractors access to the AMR device; failure to provide access may result in a fee. Once the AMR device is found, the technician will remove the old unit, install a new unit in the same location, and test the unit to ensure it is working. Upgrades take 15-30 minutes per property.

Technicians will clean up and take any/all debris with them. If the technician cannot access an AMR device, they may return during an evening or weekend. In some cases, property owners may receive a letter from DEP requesting an appointment to replace the AMR device because DEP must access the interior of the property to complete the upgrade.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.8 million in New York City and 1 million more in counties north of the City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the City, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $29 billion in investments over the next 10 years. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Russian National Arrested for Attempting to Illegally Export Aircraft to Russia by Transshipping Through Armenia

 

Sergey Nechaev, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was arrested today in the Southern District of Georgia on charges related to the unlawful attempted export of two small aircraft to Russia. In conjunction with the arrest, the U.S. government also seized the aircraft.

According to the indictment, between March 3, 2023, and March 24, 2023, Nechaev engaged in a scheme to violate and evade U.S. export control laws and regulations by attempting to smuggle two Cessna aircraft from the United States to Russia by transshipping them through Armenia. Specifically, after the U.S. government imposed stricter controls on Russia in February 2022, Nechaev attempted to export a 1968 Cessna 172K and a 1973 Cessna, valued together at approximately $170,000, to a purported Russian flight school, without the required license or authorization from the Department of Commerce. To conceal the true end user and destination of the aircraft, Nechaev falsely represented that the end user and destination were in Armenia.

Nechaev is charged with attempting to export controlled goods without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law, and causing the submission of false and misleading information in Electronic Export Information paperwork submitted through the Automated Export System. If convicted, Nechaev faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the unlawful attempted export of controlled goods; up to 10 years in prison for smuggling; and up to five years in prison for falsifying export information. The aircraft will also be subject to forfeiture as property involved in the commission of the crime. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Fatema Merchant of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that, beginning in 2014, the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

  

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY BOARDS

 

During my time as District Manager, I saw firsthand how Community Boards were left to fend for themselves and how their technology was antiquated and inefficient.

When Covid-19 hit, it became apparent Community Boards didn't have the proper resources to hold virtual community meetings and that their technology was outdated, which inspired me to secure this $310,000 to be split between all 5 Community Boards within my District.

WRAPPING UP THE CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING 

 

Throughout the last 2 weeks, #TeamSalamanca has shared highlights from our #Thanksgiving Give-Back-Events. I always look forward to our turkey distributions because it allows me the chance to interact one-on-one with you all. I hope we have been able to inspire you to partake in the giving season and contribute back to our borough in your own ways.

From my family to yours, I wish you all a very #HappyThanksgiving! 

 And it’s a wrap… #TeamSalamanca is proud to have distributed 3,500 turkeys throughout The Bronx… Happy Thanksgiving 

COMING EVENTS

BRONX ZOOS HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Please join us as we celebrate the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights with an evening of animal lanterns, ice-carving demonstrations, Wildlife Theater, and more!!!
 Saturday, December 7th,  4PM
*RSVP is required.


*3 tickets maximum allowed per order. Use the link below or QR Code on the Flyer:
https://ticketing.wcs.org/webstore/shop/viewitems.aspx...
 

For ticketing assistance, contact bzeeducation@wcs.org
I hope to see you all there!

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
 Please join #TeamSalamanca for our 2024 Holiday Party!!!
*No RSVP is required, it will be on a first-come, first-served basis*

 Thursday, December 12th
7 PM-12 AM
Maestro’s Caterers
I hope to see you all there!
Visit our District Office at: 
1070 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10459
(718) 402-6130
salamanca@council.nyc.gov

CONSUMER ALERT: DOS Division of Consumer Protection Warns Consumers to Be Cautious of Charity Scams

 

Giving Tuesday is December 3rd, Marking the Beginning of the Season of Charitable Giving

Follow These Tips to Donate Wisely and Avoid Charity Scams

Secretary Mosley: “Make sure to follow our tips and use our Division of Consumer Protection’s website and Consumer Assistance Helpline as go-to resources so you can prevent your donation money from falling into the wrong hands.”

In advance of Giving Tuesday, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is warning consumers to be cautious of charity scams. Charity scams can happen at any time, but they are often more prevalent during the holiday season when donors are moved by both generosity and the end-of-year deadline for securing tax deductions. On many occasions, these fraudsters pretend to be affiliated with well-known organizations or even the government to scam people out of their hard-earned money. According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 9,809 reports of charitable solicitation fraud nationwide in 2023, but many of these scams go unreported because individuals may not know where their donations are going or that they are being scammed.

“The holiday season is here, and many New Yorkers are looking for ways to donate to their favorite causes through charitable organizations,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “While the holidays are a time for kindness and giving, scammers may also see this time as an opportunity to exploit the generosity of others. Make sure to follow our tips and use our Division of Consumer Protection’s website and Consumer Assistance Helpline as go-to resources so you can prevent your donation money from falling into the wrong hands.”

Consumers should take the following precautions before donating:

• Check the legitimacy of the charitable organization: Charities located or engaging in substantial fundraising in New York State should be listed on the New York State Attorney General's database of registered charities. Research before you donate to verify registration by checking the database and other websites such as bbb.org, www.give.org and www.guidestar.org, in addition to visiting the charity’s website. If donating toward relief efforts, visit a site such as disasterphilanthropy.org to ensure your donation is going to help those in need.
• Learn to detect a phony charity: Some scammers will create fake “charities” and try to trick you with names similar to well-known charities. Pay attention to the charity’s full name, web address, contact information, donation policies, etc. Scammers may copy or mimic the name of a familiar, trusted organization to swindle you.
• Designate your donation: Ask how your donation will be allocated between direct services and administrative fees. Unless you designate a specific purpose for your donation, it will go into the organization’s general fund, so make sure to note if you are sending money for a specific purpose (i.e.: “Playground Fund”).
• Be cautious of third-party fundraisers: If a solicitation comes from a third-party company, the charitable organization will receive only a percentage of your donation. If you want to ensure the charity receives the whole amount, donate directly to the charity instead. For more information, access the New York State Attorney General’s website and review the annual “Pennies for Charity” report.
• Pay attention to vague claims: Be on alert for claims without any clear plan, such as “all proceeds go to cancer treatments” or “donations go to veterans who can no longer work.” Instead do some research on the charity before you decide.
• Resist high-pressure tactics: Charity fraud scams can come in many forms, whether by email, social media, crowdfunding platforms, cold calls, etc. Watch out for direct e-mails from “victims” and solicitors who employ heart-wrenching stories, insisting that you donate immediately. It is highly recommended to never provide personal information to unsolicited telemarketers, but instead ask the caller to provide you with the full name of the charitable organization, website address and contact information to research and verify.
• Find out who's behind the crowdfunding request: Online crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe, Indiegogo and Crowdrise make it easy for people to create crowdfunding campaigns. To protect yourself, remember to only give to people you know directly. It’s also important to understand the crowdfunding site’s rules, policies and vetting procedures. It can be helpful to know these ahead of time to determine how they are protecting consumers from potential fraud.
• Never disclose personal information: Do not provide any personal information such as your credit card number, Social Security number or any other personal identifying information in response to an unsolicited charitable request.
• Never give cash: Give your contribution by check or credit card to ensure that you have a record of the donation. Make checks out to the charity, not to an individual. If you choose to make a donation via a charity's website, check that the website is secure and that your computer is equipped with the latest anti-virus protection. Check for the padlock to the left of the URL search bar to ensure the site is secure. Do not send funds to anyone asking for bitcoin or cryptocurrency as these payments typically have no protections against fraud.
• Don’t mail checks from public collection boxes: According to the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the number of check fraud crimes nationwide has increased since 2020. To avoid this fraud, go directly to the post office to deposit mail. If you need to use a public U.S. Postal Service collection box, try to do so before the last pickup of the day to minimize the amount of time the check spends in the box.
• Double check before you deduct: Donations made to individuals or organizations that are not tax-exempt are not deductible. To find out if a donation will be tax deductible, research an organization’s tax-exempt status at the Internal Revenue Service Tax Exempt Organization Search. Request a receipt and track the status of your donation.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.