Online Donations
It is easier than ever to support the charity of your choice with online donations. It is also easier than ever for scammers to masquerade as a charity and take advantage of those who want to help in a disaster. Spotting fake charity campaigns can be difficult.
- Do not trust caller ID, email links or online posts by a friend when you are being prompted for personal information
- Research unfamiliar charities before donating
- Verify the website you are using is legitimate when donating to a known charity
- Do not allow anyone to rush you to donate
- Be suspicious if asked to donate with cryptocurrency, wire transfers or gift cards as these payments may be difficult to track
- Review your bank account or credit card statements to verify you did not unintentionally sign up for a recurring donation
If you suspect that you have donated to a fake charity, contact your bank immediately.