The Town of North Hempstead is cracking down on bogus clothing donation bins.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Shawn Brown says there are as many as 100 bins throughout the town, of which only 18 are registered to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. He says that many of the bins are owned by profit-making businesses posing as charities to make money by selling donated clothing.

To combat the scammers, town code enforcers are slapping yellow notice of violation stickers on bins owned by for-profit groups. Owners of those bins can face fines of up to $2,000, confiscation of the bin and even jail time.

Town officials say residents should always check to make sure a charity is legitimate before making a donation. They say you can contact the town's 311 call center or check the website of the Office of New York State Attorney General's Charities Bureau.