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New York State

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on July 20, 2020.

We recommend that you monitor this site, as well as the sites referenced in these resources, for updates and changes as we expect the situation and solutions to change over the coming weeks and months. For information on specific programs, we encourage you to visit the websites of the organizations or government entities that are responsible for the relief.

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Description of Program and Relief

New York Attorney General: Charities Bureau Complaint/Inquiry Form

Sham charity websites and crowd-funding sites may be created to request donations for virus-relief efforts for victims of COVID-19. Scammers may use emails, texts, and social media posts that appear to give virus updates, but have malicious links that can steal sensitive personal identity information.

The Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Department Of Law’s Charities Bureau (the “Charities Bureau”) provides a “Complaint/Inquiry Form” to investigate complaints that involve 1) wrongdoing by charitable corporations, trusts or other nonprofit organizations; 2) fraudulent or misleading solicitation and improper expenditure of money for charitable purposes; and 3) improper activities of executors, administrators, trustees and personal representatives responsible for honoring pledges or bequests to a charity.

Government or Lead Agency

The Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Department Of Law’s Charities Bureau

Dates Available

Open indefinitely

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Any individual alleging wrongdoing within New York State with respect to purported charitable organizations, including with regard to COVID-19.

The Attorney General does not represent applicants as their private attorney, but represents the public in enforcing laws designed to protect the public from misleading or unlawful business practices. In order to resolve your complaint, the Attorney General may send a copy of your complaint and any documents you provide to the person or business about whom you are complaining and you authorize that person or business to release information concerning your complaint to the Attorney General.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

Email: charities.bureau@ag.ny.gov. Charities Bureau Phone: (212) 416-8401

List of Additional Information

The complaint form must be printed, filled out, scanned and sent to charities.complaints@ag.ny.gov. The complaint form is available here: https://www.charitiesnys.com/pdfs/char030.pdf.

This form is not available in other languages


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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