Your heart says “give” but your head should say “verify first.” Fake charity scams have become so sophisticated that even experienced donors fall victim to urgent appeals that look completely legitimate. With Americans donating $592.5 billion to charities in 2024 (a new record), scammers are working overtime to capture a piece of that generosity and your personal information.

How Scammers Exploit Your Compassion

Charity scammers know exactly when to strike. Natural disasters, international crises, and viral social media campaigns create perfect opportunities for fake fundraisers to emerge within hours. The FBI warns that charity fraud schemes are “especially prevalent after high-profile disasters” when criminals use tragedies to exploit people who want to help.

These aren’t amateur operations. Scammers create professional-looking websites with stolen logos and hire telemarketing companies. They’ll name their fake organization something remarkably similar to a real charity like “Breast Cancer Society” instead of “Breast Cancer Alliance” banking on your quick decision-making during emotional moments.

Warning: Pressure tactics are a major red flag. Legitimate charities give you time to research and decide, while scammers often pressure you to donate right away. Real charities accept donations year-round and won’t disappear if you take time to verify their legitimacy.

The Payment Methods That Scream “Scam”

How they want your money tells you everything about their intentions. The FBI advises to “give using a check or credit card” and warns that “if a charity or organization asks you to donate through cash, gift card, virtual currency, or wire transfer, it’s probably a scam.”

Cash, gift cards, and wire transfers are untraceable, which is exactly what scammers want. Credit cards and checks provide documentation and the ability to dispute fraudulent charges. Legitimate charities understand this and gladly accept traceable payments.

Watch out for these suspicious payment requests:

• Pressure to pay immediately over the phone
• Requests for banking information or Social Security numbers
• Instructions to send gift cards or wire money
• Claims that you previously pledged to donate (when you didn’t)

Your Verification Toolkit

Before you donate, spend a few minutes protecting yourself with these trusted resources:

IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: The most authoritative source for verifying charity legitimacy. Use the IRS search tool to confirm tax-exempt status and check their Employer Identification Number (EIN). Only donations to IRS-registered 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible.

Charity Navigator: This free service rates over 225,000 charities on financial health, accountability, and transparency. Look for their star ratings and detailed financial breakdowns at charitynavigator.org.

GuideStar/Candid: Search 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations and verify nonprofit information with authoritative data from tax filings at guidestar.org.

Red Flags During Your Research

• No listing on major charity databases
• Refusal to provide detailed information about programs
• Vague descriptions like “helping people in need” without specifics
• Website domains ending in .com instead of .org
• Missing or fake contact information

Smart Giving Strategies That Protect You

Rather than responding to unsolicited charity appeals, take control of your giving:

Research first, react second. If you get a link to give via text or social media, don’t click on it. Go to the website of the actual organization, if there is one, and vet that carefully. Type URLs directly into your browser instead of clicking links.

Ask specific questions. Legitimate charities eagerly explain how donations are used, what percentage goes to programs versus administration, and can provide recent annual reports.

Trust your instincts. If you feel pressured to donate right away or something seems off, trust your instinct. High-pressure tactics indicate scammers, not legitimate fundraisers.

When Social Media and Crowdfunding Get Complicated

Personal fundraising campaigns on GoFundMe and similar platforms present unique challenges. For individual fundraisers, only donate to people you know personally or can verify through mutual connections. Even heartbreaking stories with photos can be fabricated or stolen from legitimate situations.

If You’ve Been Scammed

Discovering you’ve donated to a fake charity feels terrible, but quick action can limit the damage:

Contact your bank immediately if you used a credit card or check. Dispute the charge and explain it was fraudulent.

Report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC Consumer Complaint Assistant.

Monitor your accounts closely for unauthorized activity, since scammers may have captured additional personal information.

The unfortunate reality is that charity scams exploit the best part of human nature—our desire to help others. But with a few minutes of verification and healthy skepticism about urgent appeals, you can ensure your generosity reaches people who truly need it.