How to Avoid Being Scammed When Giving Charity</a> by <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://josephsteinberg.com//">CyberSecurity Expert Witness and Advisor Joseph Steinberg</a></em></p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-73299","data":{"text":"<p>Giving Tuesday is upon us&hellip; and, so have many criminals who seek to exploit people&rsquo;s sense of generosity.</p>\r\n<p>While evildoers perpetrate charity-related scams throughout the year, they know that the holiday spirit in general, and the concentrated focus on charity on Giving Tuesday specifically, both improve their odds of success. During this time of year, therefore, we must be extra vigilant to ensure that our charity dollars reach proper destinations and actually do good, rather than enrich criminals.</p>\r\n<p>Here are 9 ways to protect against charity-related scams:</p>\r\n<h3>1. Confirm that a charity is real</h3>\r\n<p>Before you give to a charity that is soliciting donations but about which you know very little, confirm the entity&rsquo;s worthiness with the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator, or another legitimate charity information service.</p>\r\n<h3>2. Do not open the door for door-to-door solicitors</h3>\r\n<p>Opening the door to strangers is dangerous. Ask would-be visitors to leave information about the charity for which they are collecting, and research it online.</p>\r\n<h3>3. Always use outbound communications</h3>\r\n<p>Initiate contact with a charity via its website/listed phone number/physical address/official social media accounts; never send payment details to anyone who initiates contact with you and claims to represent a charity. If you receive an email or text message soliciting money, do not respond; lookup the charity online and contact it directly. If someone calls you requesting a donation and you are interested in giving, do not provide relevant information to the caller &ndash; instead, politely indicate that, for security reasons, you will call the number on the charity&rsquo;s website in order to make a contribution (and don&rsquo;t forget to do so). Some folks suggest simply asking callers to send them information via the postal service; such an approach is acceptable as long as the caller already has your address, but, be careful not to give callers information that they do not already have. (Please note: A scam charity can also mail you solicitations &ndash; so do your diligence before sending back any money.)</p>\r\n<h3>4. Question any charity that claims to be a &ldquo;100% charity&rdquo;</h3>\r\n<p>If a charity claims that 100 percent of donations go toward charitable purposes, consider asking how such an accomplishment is possible. Does the charity operate with no budget? Who is paying for the phone line used to make solicitations, and/or for the charity&rsquo;s website?</p>\r\n<h3>5. Beware links (as always!)</h3>\r\n<p>Do not click links in any messages sent to you that appear to solicit charitable donations &ndash; whether the requests arrive by email, text message, or social media message &ndash; scammers often use such messages to install malware and/or inflict other harm.</p>\r\n<h3>6. Use credit cards for donations</h3>\r\n<p>Whenever possible, make contributions using a credit card rather than a debit card, cryptocurrency, check, or cash. If you find out that a contribution was made under false pretenses, you can dispute the relevant charge. Using one-time credit card numbers is even better, both to prevent fraud and to help authorities catch criminals.</p>\r\n<h3>7. Check addresses</h3>\r\n<p>US-based charities should have US-based physical addresses. Also, note that most non-university charities use .org addresses, not .com or .edu.</p>\r\n<h3>8. Check content for professionalism</h3>\r\n<p>Sizeable charitable organizations employ professionals; relevant physical and online collaterals should appear as such. Spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, misuse of idioms, writing that appears to have been auto-translated or written without a knowledge of &ldquo;how people actually speak,&rdquo; or photos that don&rsquo;t seem to match allegedly-related content are all red flags.</p>\r\n<h3>9. Do not trust photos (or videos) on their own</h3>\r\n<p>It is easy to such materials from legitimate charities, and manipulate them for reuse as part of a scam. Also, keep in mind that image links could point to malware-spreading sites.</p>\r\n<p>Have a safe Giving Tuesday!</p>"}}],"sidebarBlocks":[{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Cta","_identifier":"block-157084","data":{"title":"Report a Scam!","consumer":null,"description":"Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!","image":"https://files.scamadviser.com/thumbs/tell-your-story-8910e.png_200x200.png","button":"Report a Scam!","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/leave-review"}},{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Taxonomy","_identifier":"block-157123","data":{"title":"Scam Categories","taxonomies":[{"id":7,"name":"Scam Alerts (1025)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts"},{"id":6,"name":"Scam Trends (372)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends"},{"id":8,"name":"Global Scam Country Guide (44)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/global-scam-country-guide"},{"id":87,"name":"Product Reviews (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/product-reviews"},{"id":88,"name":"Fact Check (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/fact-check"},{"id":3,"name":"News about Scamadviser (42)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/news-about-scamadviser"},{"id":5,"name":"Reliable Sites (37)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites"},{"id":1,"name":"Tips & Support (32)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/tips-support"},{"id":2,"name":"Research & Reports (26)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports"},{"id":4,"name":"Advice for Companies (2)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies"}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59407","data":{"align":"left","text":"Help & Info","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157795","data":{"articles":[{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157824","data":{"title":"Scam Alerts","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts","icon":"fa-exclamation-triangle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-scam-alert-f348b.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157839","data":{"title":"Learn Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends","icon":"fa-tags","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-learn-scam-737a6.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157854","data":{"title":"Reliable Sites","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites","icon":"fa-check-circle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-website-213fb.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157869","data":{"title":"Advices","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies","icon":"fa-comment","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-advice-f32d8.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157884","data":{"title":"Studies","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports","icon":"fa-search","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-report-ebc61.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-161131","data":{"title":"Global Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/global-scam-country-guide","icon":"fa-globe","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-global-scam-005ad.svg"}}],"buttonText":"See all","buttonLink":"https://www.scamadviser.com/help-info"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-167997","data":{"align":"left","text":"Top Safety Picks","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Lists","_identifier":"block-167811","data":{"heading":"Your Go-To Tools for Online Safety","hint":"Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.","description":null,"listItems":[{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167891","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - iOS","titleUrl":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scamadviser/id6480509109","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on iOS"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167944","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - Android","titleUrl":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tech.scamadviser","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on Android."}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-169734","data":{"title":"NordVPN","titleUrl":"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101566658-13382109","linkTarget":"1","text":"NordVPN keeps your connection private and secure whether you are at home, traveling, or streaming from another country. It protects your data, blocks unwanted ads and trackers, and helps you access your paid subscriptions anywhere. Try it Today!"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-171573","data":{"title":"Incogni","titleUrl":"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101566658-15718702","linkTarget":"1","text":"Incogni automatically removes your personal data from data brokers that trade in personal information online, helping reduce scam and identity theft risks without the hassle of manual opt-outs. 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A VPN works by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, masking your real IP address and protecting your sensitive data from prying eyes.\r\nBut with hundreds of providers out there, how do you sort the secure from the suspect? This guide breaks down the non-negotiable features of a quality VPN and highlights the 7 top-rated services for 2025.\r\nWhat to Look for in a Good VPN: The 4 Non-Negotiable Pillars\r\n1. Ironclad Security Features\r\n\r\nStrong Encryption: AES-256, the gold standard.\r\nSecure Protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, NordLynx, Lightway. Avoid PPTP.\r\nKill Switch: Ensures no accidental IP leaks.\r\nLeak Protection: Covers DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC.\r\n\r\n2. Verified Privacy Practices\r\n\r\nNo-Logs Policy: No activity or metadata tracking.\r\nIndependent Audits: Verification by third parties.\r\nSafe Jurisdiction: Prefer countries outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.\r\n\r\n3. 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Look for official emails, letters, or public announcements.\r\nCheck Verified Breach DatabasesPlatforms like HaveIBeenPwned help you see if","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false}]}}],"meta":{"title":"9 Ways to Avoid Getting Scammed While Giving Charity","description":"Giving Tuesday is upon us… and, so have many criminals who seek to exploit people’s sense of generosity.\r\n\r\nWhile evildoers perpetrate charity-related scams throughout the year, they know that the holiday spirit in general, and the concentrated focus on charity on Giving Tuesday specifically, both improve their odds of success. During this time of year, therefore, we must be extra vigilant to ensure that our charity dollars reach proper destinations and actually do good, rather than enrich criminals.","canonical":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/9-ways-to-avoid-getting-scammed-while-giving-charity","alternates":[{"language":"x-default","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/9-ways-to-avoid-getting-scammed-while-giving-charity"},{"language":"nl","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/nl/articles/9-manieren-om-niet-opgelicht-te-worden-tijdens-het-geven-van-liefdadigheid"},{"language":"pt","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/pt/articles/9-maneiras-de-evitar-ser-enganado-ao-fazer-caridade"},{"language":"es","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/es/articles/9-formas-de-evitar-ser-estafado-cuando-se-hace-caridad"},{"language":"de","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/de/articles/9-wege-um-zu-vermeiden-dass-man-beim-spenden-von-wohltaetigkeit-betrogen-wird"},{"language":"fr","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/fr/articles/9-facons-deviter-de-se-faire-escroquer-en-faisant-des-dons-de-charite"},{"language":"it","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/it/articles/9-modi-per-evitare-di-essere-truffati-durante-le-donazioni-di-beneficenza"},{"language":"uk","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/uk/articles/9-sposobiv-unyknuty-shakhraystva-pid-chas-nadannia-blahodiynoyi-dopomohy"},{"language":"ro","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/ro/articles/9-moduri-de-a-evita-sa-fii-inselat-in-timp-ce-faci-donatii-caritabile"},{"language":"ru","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/ru/articles/9-sposobov-izbezhat-moshennichestva-pri-okazanii-blagotvoritelnoy-pomoschi"},{"language":"zh","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/zh/articles/bi-mian-zai-juan-zeng-ci-shan-shi-bei-pian-de-9chong-fang-fa"},{"language":"tc","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/tc/articles"},{"language":"ja","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/jp/articles/ci-shan-huo-dong-zhong-nizha-qi-nizao-wanaitameno9tsunofang-fa"}]},"language":"en","head":[],"pendingCookieConsent":false,"isHomePage":false,"navigation":{"items":{"data":[{"id":1082,"name":"Report 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