The Sacramento Police Department wants to remind the community to be wary of curbside solicitors claiming to represent a charity or cause. 

The scam occurs in the following way:  You are walking into or out of a store.  A person approaches with a jar and a brochure saying they represent some charity that sounds like a good cause.  The person is only asking for whatever change you may have.  The person sounds legitimate.  You think to yourself, why not, I have some change in my pocket so you hand the person the money. 

The questions that you don't get answered are: where is your money actually going, is it even a real charity, does the charity coordinator or collector have a criminal past, or have you just donated to a random person who just scammed you? 

The Police Department encourages you to donate if you choose to, but only to organizations that you research and/or feel confident are legitimate.

To file a complaint against, or determine the legitimacy of, a charity, go to the Office of the Attorney General at http://ag.ca.gov/charities.php