You want to do the right thing. You want to help those in need. Unfortunately, not everybody shares your altruistic point of view. There are people out there who only want to help themselves, and they’re willing to do it by taking advantage of your good nature and stealing your money. Worst of all, they do it in the name of charity
Sadly, there are so many sophisticated charity scams operating that it’s difficult for would-be donors to tell the fake charities from the real ones. Email, snail mail, television and even face-to-face solicitations seek funding for a wide range of causes.
The scammers use natural disasters, websites designed to look exactly like legitimate charities and high-pressure sales tactics, including guilt and promises of sweepstakes winnings to entice donors. To prevent being scammed, absolutely avoid charities that:
- Won’t Take a Check
Legitimate charities don’t insist on cash donations. Nor do they require donations to be made via wire transfer.
- Can’t Be Reached by Phone
Legitimate charities have working telephone numbers and offices with staff members who can answer your questions. You should be able to contact the office and discuss the charities’ activities, including how the money is spent and what percentage of it goes to those in need vs. what is spent on administrative expenses and executive salaries.
- Solicit Donations via Email
Email is a scammer’s dream come true. With the push of a button a blast email message can reach an enormous audience. If just a small percentage of those people respond, the scammer makes money. Legitimate charities also solicit by email.
So if you are charitably inclined, you don’t need an unsolicited email to help you decide where to donate. Hit the delete key for ones you don’t know and respond to charities that reflect your values.
- Call You on the Phone
Like email, telemarketing is a great tool for scammers. Dialing for dollars is a numbers game. Call enough numbers and somebody will send money. Unfortunately, most of that money ends up in the hands of the people making the calls instead of the charities they claim to represent. If you get a call from somebody asking for money, hang up the phone. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, at the very least ask for a call back number. Do not donate on the spot. Take some time to learn more about the charity and, if you like what you learn, call back and make your donation.
- Thank You For a Pledge You Don’t Remember Making
Scammers often start with a “thank you,” telling you that they appreciate your pledge and are now contacting you to connect. The letters usually read: “Thank you for your membership” or something similar and end with a request for a donation. If you don’t remember becoming a member, don’t make the donation.
Don’t ever fall for their scams. They will end up ripping you of your hard-earned money.
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