Charitable Donation Scams

Making a charitable donation starts with good intent, but scammers are looking to take advantage of those least suspecting it. Here’s what to look for before donating.

Charitable donations are a great way to make an impact on the causes you care about. But when tragedy strikes, scammers will prey on the generosity of those trying to support the victims. Scammers may request donations on social media or crowdfunding websites – or contact you by phone, text, or email.

How To Determine If A Donation Appeal Is Real – Or A Scam

Common Characteristics  

Charity scams occur when a scammer tricks people into sending them money for what they believe is a worthy cause. Be on the lookout for these common characteristics of a scam:

• Emotional appeals. Scammers may try to tug at your heartstrings by highlighting victims of natural disasters, such as wildfires or hurricanes, with an urgent appeal for donations that seemingly go towards food or shelter. Scammers commonly attempt to manipulate people into acting on emotion rather than logic.
• Unusual language and names. Pay close attention to the details in any request you receive – especially poor grammar and spelling errors. Scammers may try to slightly alter a real charity’s name or website by changing a single letter and hoping people don’t notice the difference.
• Specific payment method. Be wary if a “charity” requires you to donate through a digital payment platform or other non-refundable payment method, such as a gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps. Legitimate charities typically offer secure, trackable payment options and do not demand one specific method.

Even if a charity seems real, it’s important to research the organization and look for reviews. You can also do an online search for the name of the charity with the word “scam” or “complaints” to see if others have reported any issues. If you’re unable to verify a charity’s authenticity, you may want to donate elsewhere. When it comes to sending money, always remember to slow down and ask yourself questions. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts.