How to Spot a Charity Scam (and What to Do If You've Been Targeted)

The red flags

• Pressure. "We need it today." Real charities will gladly take your gift next week, after you've checked them out.
• Odd payment requests. Gift cards, wire transfers, cash pickups, cryptocurrency or a payment app sent to a person's name.
• Sound-alike names. One word different from a famous charity, or a name built around an emotional cause like "police," "firefighters," "veterans" or "children with cancer."
• Thanks for a pledge you never made. A common trick to make you feel you owe them.
• Prizes. No legitimate charity requires a donation to enter a sweepstakes.
• Vague answers about where the money goes, and no written material.
• Caller ID showing a local area code. It can be faked.

Disaster appeals

After hurricanes, wildfires and mass tragedies, new "relief funds" appear within hours. Some are honest but untested; some are scams.

• Give to established organizations already working in the affected area.
• Be cautious with groups that didn't exist before the disaster.
• Don't send goods unless the charity specifically asked for them; cash is usually more useful to relief workers.
• Expect real relief to take months. Charities that promise to deliver everything immediately may not understand the work.

Appeals that use veterans, police and firefighters

Appeals that mention veterans, first responders and sick children move people, which is exactly why scammers use them. The FTC and state regulators have brought cases against sham charities that used these causes and spent little on them. Check them like any other charity, and read Giving to Veterans' Causes for trusted ways to help.

Phone and door-to-door asks

Many phone appeals are made by paid professional fundraisers, who keep a share of what they raise. Ask: "Are you a paid fundraiser? What percentage of my gift goes to the charity?" Then hang up and give directly on the charity's own website if you still want to help.

Online, social media and crowdfunding

• Type the charity's web address yourself instead of clicking a link in a text, email or post.
• Be wary of fundraisers for strangers that you can't verify.
• Gifts to individuals through crowdfunding sites are not tax-deductible charitable contributions.
• Check whether a campaign says it benefits a charity, and whether that charity has confirmed it.

Pay the safe way

Pay by check made out to the organization (not a person) or by credit card on the charity's own website. Keep a record of every gift in the Donation Tracker.

If you've been targeted

1. Stop contact and don't send more money.
2. If you paid by card, call the card issuer and dispute the charge. If you used a gift card, contact the company that issued it right away.
3. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
4. Report it to your state's charity office or attorney general (find yours through NASCO).

Being fooled by a scam isn't a sign of foolishness. It's a sign that you're generous. Reporting it helps protect the next person.