Check to see if the charity is listed in a reputable database where you can check the legitimacy of such organizations.
Check the organization’s website. The website of a real charitable organization is easy to find through search engines. Check the URL: a nonprofit organization’s site is more likely to be located in a .org domain than a .com domain. Don’t go to addresses that end with a set of numbers. The organization’s TIN and other credentials should be clearly listed on the site. Fake websites (including those of supposedly charitable organizations) may ask you for detailed information such as passport details, date of birth, bank account number or PIN. Be extremely careful: once they have this information, it’s easy for criminals to steal your identity.
If you want to make a donation, enter the charity’s website address manually rather than clicking a link. Contact charities directly to make a donation or offer assistance.
Look for media mentions or additional information that can confirm that the organization is real. Look for ratings or reviews of the charity on publicly available resources. Check for search terms with the organization’s name and the words “scam” or “fraud.”
Never transfer money or provide personal, credit card or account information to anyone you do not know or trust.
Transfer donations by credit card. This is the safest way to do so. Never send donations by money order or in the form of gift card numbers. If you are asked to use one of these methods, chances are you have encountered scammers.
Delete emails with attachments you don’t expect. Genuine emails from charitable organizations will generally not contain attachments. Don’t open attachments – they are likely to turn out to be viruses or download malware to your computer that will leave you vulnerable to future hacking attempts.
Don’t click on links in suspicious emails and never respond to sudden messages or calls asking for personal or financial information. Ignoring links to fake fund sites will also help you avoid phishing.
Check to see if the email address is real. To do this, hover your mouse over the address to display it. Check if the address really belongs to the charity organization.
Be vigilant on social media. Charitable organizations can use social media as a useful tool for connecting with the public and soliciting donations. But don’t immediately assume a donation request on social media is genuine just because someone on your friend list has liked or shared a post. Take your time and research the group before transferring money.
Transfer money through a trustworthy and reliable service. Transfer funds only to legitimate charitable organizations, which will protect you from fraud.
Be critical of ads on fundraising platforms.In recent years, there has been a proliferation of fundraising websites where you can quickly post an ad to raise money for unexpected medical expenses or personal tragedies. That said, the platform does not verify individual fundraisers, so you can’t say for sure which story is real and which is fictional. It’s worth being cautious on such resources.
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