Make sure your donations reach the people who need them
When people are in need, our natural response is to lend a hand. The problem is bad actors know that too. In fact, they rely on that instinct to scam us.
That’s why it’s important to be vigilant when we’re most vulnerable. After a natural disaster or tragic event, scammers make appeals alongside legitimate charities. The situation happens during the holidays too, when it’s easy to take advantage of our natural goodwill. Scammers may also appeal to our patriotism or civic duty, claiming to be helping service members, local police or firefighters.
The good news is that charity scammers often make the same mistakes, which you can watch out for. They’ll push for an immediate donation, refuse to tell you how your money will be used or refuse to provide details about the charity. Sometimes they’ll insist you’ve already made a pledge you never made.
When it comes to charities, be generous. But first, be smart.
Six ways to protect yourself from charity scams:
- Confirm that the charity is legitimate by checking with independent organizations such as Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, Wise Giving Alliance, the IRS or the Better Business Bureau.
- Be wary of urgent appeals and overly emotional claims, since scammers often use high-pressure tactics to get victims to donate immediately, especially during emergencies.
- Watch for unusual donation methods such as requests for you to send donations using cash, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, money orders or gift cards.
- Never share sensitive personal information with unfamiliar charities or provide more than is necessary to process your donation.
- Never make donations over the phone, especially if a caller insists on immediate payment with a credit card or asks for checking or savings account numbers.
- Report online scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state consumer protection office.
Helping you stay one step ahead of charity scams is another way Credit Union ONE is helping to protect you, your data, and your finances.