Surefire Ways To Tell That a Charity Is a Scam

Many charities do their part to ensure donators know that their contributions go through verifiable channels like a donation drive or a donor-sponsored fund website. However, many scammers may pose as reputable, and it’s essential to know these surefire ways to tell that a charity is a scam before sending any donation type.

They Don’t Provide Enough Detail

Many charities have a backstory, often explaining what they fight or raise awareness for and why they do it. Even new charities detail a history of their starting days up to now. Businesses or individuals that pose as charitable organizations avoid questions prospective contributors have about their cause or past.

If you find that after doing a quick internet search, the company doesn’t provide information on one of the following on their website, you likely shouldn’t trust them:

• There’s no explanation of how they use the money
• There’s no official location for their headquarters
• They don’t provide a tax-exempt number
• There’s no indication of what percentage goes to the program

Again, if the company doesn’t list out information on their website and refuses to give you knowledge on anything related to your donation, it’s best to avoid them.

They Don’t Provide Donation Receipts

If there’s no option to document your donations and keep records of how often or how much you donate, there’s something awry here. Many legitimate charities offer donors the chance to receive a donation receipt, especially if they want to file it on their taxes.

Scammers might trick you into believing you never donated or forgot to make one. To avoid this scam tactic, a donator needs to have their documents on hand and verify when they made a contribution and if the payment went through.

A Charity Pressures You To Donate

No one likes donating due to pressure, which is one of the biggest red flags for any company that claims to use donations for good. Some grifters may use forceful tactics such as giving you a made-up story of a victim and how your contribution can help them get something unrealistic.

Many reputable charities never use tactics to make you feel bad for not donating right away. Many take it upon themselves to let you know about their cause, give you plenty of time to donate, and may even give you specific times of the year the contributor can get an incentive out of donating.

They Use Fishy Donation Methods

Stay away from charities that claim to enter you into a contest if you donate. No legitimate charity accepts donations via cash-paying apps or wire transfers. Additionally, gift cards aren’t donations, and they never count as them.

Getting to know your options for charities before donating is essential, especially if you’re looking for a reputable veteran’s charity. Keep these hints a charity may be a scam in mind before contributing anything of monetary value to an organization.