BOISE, ID — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is urging residents to use caution when donating to charities during the holiday season, noting an annual rise in fraudulent schemes targeting goodwill. The warning comes as International Charity Fraud Awareness Week continues through December 12.

According to the press release, the weeks surrounding Christmas — along with periods following natural disasters — often draw out scam operations seeking to take advantage of public generosity. Labrador emphasized that while charitable giving remains an important tradition, it also presents opportunities for dishonest actors to solicit money under false pretenses.

“The holidays unfortunately bring out the worst in criminals who exploit our community’s generosity,” Labrador said. “We can’t allow scams to undermine legitimate charities or the people who depend on them. It’s up to all of us to stay informed and make smart decisions about our donations.”

The Attorney General’s Office advised Idahoans to be cautious of unfamiliar organizations making unsolicited requests, noting that legitimate charities do not ask for payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency. Residents are also urged to avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages, refrain from sharing banking information over the phone or online, and verify an organization’s registration status before contributing.

Additional resources and scam-prevention tools are available through the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection website: ReportScamsIdaho.com.