Sharing your blessings through charity is a wonderful way to give back. Unfortunately, though, scammers often hijack the kindness of charity-givers to get at their money and their information. Here’s what you need to know about charity scams.
How the scams play out
In a charity scam, a scammer or scam ring targets victims via phone calls, advertising online, or mass emails. They pretend to represent a well-known charity or popular cause. They’ll ask the target to donate, and sometimes ask that they share personally identifiable information. Sadly, though, instead of these funds going to help a charity, they go into the scammer’s pockets.
Charity Scam Red Flags
Look out for these red flags to help you identify a charity scam:
- You’re asked to share personal information before donating.
- You’re pressured to donate now.
- You get vague responses when you ask how donations will be used.
- The name of the organization closely resembles a well-known charity.
- An alleged charity will only accept donations by prepaid debit card or gift card.
Protect Yourself
Follow these basic rules for giving safely:
- Give to established charities you know and trust.
- When donating to a new charity, verify its authenticity on a charity-vetting site, like Charity Navigator.
- Never click on embedded links or open email attachments coming from an unverified contact.
- Directly contact the charity you wish to donate to on your own.
- Check the URL of the charity’s website for accurate spelling.
- When donating by phone, visit the charity’s website to ensure you have the correct number.
- Don’t share personally identifiable information with an unverified contact.
- If you’re using text-to-donate, verify the number with the charity first.
- Make your donation with a credit card for the strongest purchase protection.
If you’ve been targeted
If you believe you’ve been targeted by a charity scam, you can help law enforcement agencies catch the scammers. First, report the scam to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Next, alert the FTC at FTC.gov. Finally, if the scam involves financial aid for a recent natural disaster, report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud.