Five Signs a Charity Is Actually a Scam
Charities tend to raise a lot of their money this time of year. It's also open season for scammers. So if you get a phone call from a charity you don't recognize, here are five signs it might be a scam.
- They only offer vague information about what they do, and where your money will go.
- They can't prove your donation will be tax deductible. There are a few types of legit non-profits where donations aren't tax deductible, and you also can't deduct donations to political campaigns. If that's the case, they should be upfront about it.
- Their name resembles a well-known organization, but it's slightly different. Like instead of the World Wildlife Fund, they're called the "Worldwide Wildlife Fund". Which is made up, but you get the point.
- They thank you for making a pledge or a previous donation that you don't remember making. Don't just take their word for it and assume you forgot.
- They push really hard to get you to donate right away. Which is a tough one, because it seems like half of real charities do that too.
If you're ever in doubt, you can go to any of these three websites. If it's a real charity, it should be listed on at least one of them: Give.org • CharityWatch.org • and GuideStar.org.