In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, coupled with the approaching Holidays, more and more charities will try to get donations. When you decide to support a cause, you want your donation to count. The problem is, which ones are legit? How do you know your money is actually going where you think it is? Unfortunately, hackers and scammers prey upon the good will of others and use deceptive practices to trick unsuspecting donators into giving them money. Doing some research and planning before you donate will help to ensure the money gets to those who need it and not the criminals who want to take it.
- Do some research online. If you are looking for a Charity to support, search for the cause you want to donate to and use phrases like “best charity” or “highly rated charity”. Always use organizations such as the BBB, Charity Navigator, or Charity Watch to help you be sure the charity you choose is legit. You could also do a Google search with the name of the charity and add the words complaint, review, rating, or scam.
- Be leery of donating through crowdfunding campaigns. Those dollars raised go to the campaign organizer and not directly to the people or cause it is set up for. The organizer is supposed to tell you the truth about what the money is raised for and how it is used, but it is up to them to deliver on their promises. It is way too easy for someone to set up a bogus GoFundMe or Kickstarter and keep the money for themselves.
- Be careful how you pay. If someone wants a donation in cash, by gift card, wiring money, or via crypto don’t do it, that is how scammers ask you to pay. Play it safe and donate with credit card or check. Always keep a record of any donation you make and check your account after donating to be sure the amount you agreed to is the amount you are charged. Also, keep a watch for recurring donations that you didn’t sign up for.
- Keep scammers’ tricks in mind. They will try to rush you into donating, play upon your heartstrings, or thank you for a previous donation you didn’t make in order to seem legit. They sometimes use vague claims but do not give specifics of how the money is to be used. Bogus organizations will also tell you that your donation is tax deductible when it isn’t. If you receive a phone call from someone asking to donate, don’t trust your caller ID. Scammers spoof phone numbers all the time. And, if an organization guarantees you will win a sweepstakes by donating, that is always a scam and very illegal.
