Charity Scams - How to Tell If a Charity Is a Fraud Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close

Charity Scams

Americans contributed more than $485 billion to charity in 2020, according to the Giving USA Foundation’s annual report on U.S. philanthropy. That generosity supports many amazing organizations that put those billions to work for health care, education, environmental protection, the arts and numerous other causes. Unfortunately, it also opens a door for scammers, who capitalize on donors’ goodwill to line their pockets. Watchdog Alerts
Sign up for biweekly updates on the latest scams. Some charity fraud involves faux fundraising for and . Scammers know how readily we open our hearts and wallets to those who served and those rebuilding their lives after hurricanes, earthquakes or wildfires. Charity scammers are especially active during the holidays, the biggest giving season of the year. Scammers know how readily we open our hearts and wallets to those who served and those rebuilding their lives after , earthquakes or wildfires. Charity scammers are especially active during the , the biggest giving season of the year. Some sham charities succeed by mimicking the real thing.. Like genuine nonprofits, they reach you via telemarketing, direct mail, email and door-to-door solicitations. They create well-designed websites with deceptive names. (Cybersecurity firm DomainTools noted a in website registrations with the words "Ukraine" and "Ukrainian" in the days after Russia's invasion, for example.)
4 Ways to Avoid a Charity Scam Some operate fully outside the law; others are in fact registered nonprofits but devote little of the money they raise to the programs they promote. Federal and state authorities who in March 2021 said the affiliated companies pocketed as much as 90 cents on the donated dollar as they bombarded consumers with illegal robocalls and deceptive appeals to support homeless veterans, cancer patients and children with autism. With a little research and a few precautions, you can help ensure your donations go to organizations that are genuinely serving others, not helping themselves.

Warning signs

Pressure to give right now. A legitimate charity will welcome your donation whenever you choose to make it.A thank-you for a donation you don’t recall making. Making you think you’ve already given to the cause is a common tactic unscrupulous fundraisers use.A request for payment by cash, or wire transfer. These are scammers’ favored payment methods because the money is easy to access and difficult to trace.

How to protect yourself from this scam

Check how watchdogs like , and the Better Business Bureau's rate an organization before you make a donation, and contact your state’s to verify that the organization is registered to raise money there.Do your own research online. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends searching for a charity’s name or a cause you want to support (like “animal welfare” or “homeless kids”) with terms such as “highly rated charity,” “complaints” and “scam.”Pay attention to the charity’s name and web address. Scammers often mimic the names of familiar, trusted organizations to deceive donors.Keep a record of your donations and regularly review your credit card account to make sure you weren’t charged more than you agreed to give or unknowingly signed up for a recurring donation.Don’t give personal and financial information like your Social Security number, date of birth or bank account number to anyone soliciting a donation. Scammers use that data to steal money and .Don’t click on links in unsolicited email, texts or fundraising messages on social media platforms; they can unleash malware. where you can check whether an organization is a registered charity and if your donation will be tax-deductible.You can report suspected charity fraud to the and the government agency in your state that .The , , and provide a bevy of resources on charitable organizations, including ratings, reviews, and tax and financial data. MORE FROM AARP Scam Tracking Map No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS