Online Donations

It is easier than ever to support the charity of your choice with online donations. It is also easier than ever for scammers to masquerade as a charity and take advantage of those who want to help in a disaster. Spotting fake charity campaigns can be difficult.

• Do not trust caller ID, email links or online posts by a friend when you are being prompted for personal information.
• Research unfamiliar charities before donating.
• Verify the website you are using is legitimate when donating to a known charity.
• Do not allow anyone to rush you to donate.
• Be suspicious if asked to donate with cryptocurrency, wire transfers or gift cards as these payments may be difficult to track.
• Review your bank account or credit card statements to verify you did not unintentionally sign up for a recurring donation.

If you suspect that you have donated to a fake charity, contact your bank immediately.