The holidays bring out the generosity in people. Unfortunately, scammers know that too. After disasters and during the holiday season, fake charities pop up quickly, often with names that sound almost identical to real ones.
Warning signs
Pressure to donate right now, on the phone or at your door. [Link: Why Scammers Create a Sense of Urgency]
Vague answers about where the money goes.
Requests for payment by gift card, wire transfer, crypto, or cash.
A thank-you for a donation you don't remember making, used to make you feel you've already committed.
Heart-tugging stories with no details you can check.
How to check a charity
Look it up on Charity Navigator or Give.org.
Confirm it's a registered charity using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search on IRS.gov.
Go to the charity's website by typing the address yourself instead of clicking a link from a text or social media post.
Being generous shouldn't mean being unprotected. The Scam-Check Workbook helps you pause and check before you give, so your kindness lands where you meant it to.
Safer ways to give
Donate directly through the charity's official website.
Use a credit card or a check made out to the organization, never to an individual.
It's okay to say, "I don't donate over the phone, but I'll look you up." A real charity will be fine with that.
Giving should feel good. Taking a few minutes to check first means your kindness reaches the people it was meant for.
Give with confidence this season. The Scam-Check Workbook is available as a printable, a spiral-bound edition, or a paperback on Amazon. It's a meaningful stocking stuffer for the most generous person you know.
