Charity Scams: Donate for the Holidays Without the Fear of Scammers

One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays is by donating to charities to help the less fortunate. Your contribution can go a long way, especially since many people are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic. 

However, con artists will not hesitate to use your generosity to their advantage. Read on to learn how charity scams during the holidays work and how you can donate without the fear of scammers.

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How Charity Scams During the Holidays Work

You may have a pure intention when deciding to share a portion of your money with charitable organizations. Unfortunately, scammers see this season of giving as an easy way to steal your money. These charity scams are done through phone calls, emails, crowdfunding platforms, websites, and social media accounts. 

For instance, you will receive an email from what appears like a legitimate charity. Then, you’ll be asked to visit the link, which will eventually take you to a fake website. Here, you will be obliged to share your personal information and even bank details, this is known as a phishing scam. These scammers will try to suit their email based on what matters to you. How so? They will check public sites and monitor your social media posts. Running a reverse email search is the quickest way of avoiding this scam.

Other scammers will send you a message, thanking you for a donation that you don’t even remember making. This is to give you a guilt trip and finally convince you to donate your money. While some scammers will copy the names of real charities, others will come up with their own names.

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Identifying Charity Scams

To make sure your donation reaches the right people and not scammers, watch out for the following signs of charity scams during the holidays: 

1. They refuse to share more details about the charity. These include how the donation will be used and how much the operating cost is. 
2. You are pressured to donate right away. Remember that real charities will give you enough time and won’t be hostile if you decide not to donate yet.  
3. You will receive a thank-you letter from “charities” to increase their chances of tricking you into making a donation.
4. You’re asked to share your financial and other personal information. This is something that legitimate charities will not do, especially via phone calls, text messages, or email.  
5. You’re asked to send money through gift cards, cash, or wire transfer. Others will also urge you to send it overseas, which is a common charity scam. 
6. You may notice typos and grammar mistakes.  

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Preventing Charity Scams During the Holiday Season

While you want to spread that gift-giving spirit during the holiday season, scammers enjoy taking the opposite route. Learn how to avoid charity scams with the following tips: 

1. Do sufficient research to confirm that the charity is legitimate. This includes using CharityNavigator or Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. You can also type terms like “scam” or “complaints” beside the charity name that was given.   
2. Carefully check the name and web address of the charity. Fraudsters are quick to imitate the names of reputable organizations.
3. Ask how many percent of your donation will go to fundraising and overhead costs. According to BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, 65% of the total expenses must be used to fulfill the charity’s cause.
4. Never donate using cash or through wire transfer and gift cards. These are the go-to payment methods of scammers because they can take your money with fewer risks. 
5. Don’t open links included in suspicious emails or fundraising messages from social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.  
6. Never provide your personal and financial details to a random caller or sender asking for a donation. The information could be used for identity theft and stealing your money. 
7. Donate directly. Call the organization to know more about its mission, who will benefit from the donation, and how it will be used.

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Donate Safely During the Holidays With Social Catfish

Supporting certain causes through donations will make your holiday season even more memorable and fulfilling. Unfortunately, others will take advantage of your kindness through charity scams. To help you donate without the fear of scammers, remember the tips we’ve shared above. Then, run a reverse name search to reveal their identity in no time.