Don’t let fake fundraising harm your holiday spirit!
The holidays are a season of giving. Unfortunately, some bad people and their illegitimate organizations use the holiday spirit of giving as an opportunity to steal money from good people like you. Instead of supporting a good cause, donations could end up in a scammer’s pocket. Scammers may approach you through emails, social media posts, crowdfunding platforms, cold calls, etc. Always use caution and do your research when you're looking to donate to charitable causes.
Here are some tips to help keep you and your money safe:
- Be suspicious of any individual or organization that requires payment of your donation through cash, gift cards, virtual currency, or a wire transfer.
- Double-check a charity’s authenticity at charity navigator.
- Remember good cybersecurity hygiene:
- Don't click links or open email attachments from someone you don't know.
- Check the email address. Legitimate organizations don’t typically use Gmail, yahoo, or other personal use email accounts.
- Check the website's address.
If you do suspect fraud, here’s what you should do:
- Give us a call a 1-800-660-3258 or visit our website.
- Contact your state consumer protection office.
- Report online fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Report suspected disaster-related fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
Don’t let your holiday season and generous spirit be soured by a scam. Just a few minutes spent double-checking a request can help make sure your donation lands in the right hands.