Charity Email Scams

May 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The scam truck

Image by jepoirrier via Flickr

Before the internet, we didn’t have to worry too much about scams landing in our home. These days, email scams are a common fact of life on the internet. Unfortunately many people still fall victim to a seemingly innocent email.

Many people are good natured and willing to give to charities. So when an email lands in his or her inbox claiming to be from a particular charity this good natured person does not think ill of it and, wanting to donate money, gets caught out in an email scam. Charity scams are designed to take advantage of such generous and good natured people. They prey on those who may not know that such things can exist as emails.

Charity scammers obtain cash from people by sending out a spam email to thousands of people. This email may seem legit. It may even have a link to an even more legitimate looking website. On this website a person will generally be asked to donate money with a credit card, and thus the scam begins. Many people have had thousands of dollars stolen this way.

If you receive any email from anyone you do not know it is a good idea to treat it with great caution. Even going as far as deleting emails from anyone you don’t know is not as silly as you think. Sometimes even just opening and email from an unknown sender will execute something called malware on your computer. This malware can track your internet usage and even collect personal data for the scammers. This includes internet banking passwords and other type of information.

 

Filed Under: Charities, Charity Scams Tagged With: , ,

signs of a charity scam

March 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It happens any time there are a group of people who need outside help. From cancer patients to victims of natural disasters, scam artists will use any available group afflicted by misfortune as a front for running bogus charities. Such activities are both illegal and unethical.

You can avoid being taken in by their scams by paying attention to the following warning signs when these bogus charities contact you asking for donations:

1. The charity provides no written information about its mission, its operating costs or how donations will be used. If it is legitimate, it will have no trouble providing such information to potential donors.

2. The charity offers you no evidence that your donation will be tax-deductible on your next tax return.

3. The charity in question tries to breed confusion by choosing a name closely resembling a legitimate charity that already exists.

4. You get pushed to make donations through applying high pressure tactics designed to increase guilt if you attempt to decline making a donation.

5. You are asked for bank account information or a credit card number before you even agree to make a donation or you are asked to make a large cash only donation.

6. You get a phone call or letter thanking you for a donation you never made and you are quickly asked to contribute even more funds.

7. If you donate a large sum, you are promised you will be entered in to win a sweepstakes.

It is unfortunate that bad people come out of the woodwork when disaster strikes. But you can be certain your donations will go to the right place if you exercise caution. Always ask questions and get answers before donating.

Filed Under: Charity Scams, Donations Tagged With: , ,

Ways you can make a charitable donation

February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When you decide to donate to a charity, a ton of options open up to you. There are plenty of ways to give back besides just simply writing a check to your charity of choice. There is no reason you cannot contribute in your own way.

Here are some other ways you can donate to charity in addition to breaking open your wallet:

Donating time.

Volunteering does not cost you a thing and what it requires in terms of commitment, it pays off in so many other ways. Volunteering is the perfect way to get involved in a cause you care about. You can take a hands-on approach to solving problems and moving forward important work in any number of areas. Whether you have a day or even a couple of hours to give, committing time to any charitable cause is a worthwhile endeavor. Take some time and search for a cause that corresponds with what you believe in and matches your own talents and abilities.

Donating food and clothing.

There are many people who lack warm clothing or food to put on the dinner table. You can help alleviate these circumstances through timely donations. Contact your local food bank to find out when and how you can donate. Donating clothing is a good way to clean out your closet. You can dispose of clothes that you have outgrown or no longer wear, but are still in good condition. It does not need to be limited to what you do personally. You can talk with your bosses and organize a food or clothing drive at your workplace.

Donating your car.

Perhaps you have decided to upgrade your current automobile for a newer model with lower mileage. Instead of taking out a classified ad to sell your old car, donating it can be the perfect way to get it our of your driveway and accomplish a good dead at the same time. It does require some work, but donating your car to charity is a much better alternative than selling it for pocket change or sending it off to a junkyard.

Filed Under: Charity Scams, News Tagged With: , , , ,

Avoiding charity scams

February 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Giving to a good cause is a noble act. That is one reason why charity scams feel especially heinous. Scam artists who participate in this sort of deception are preying on people making an effort to help those around them.

The effect of such scams can be damaging. Money and resources are diverted away from needy people who could truly use them. And people who started out with intentions of being a humanitarian are disgusted by falling victim to the deception and they turn away from charitable giving altogether.

Still, the fear of charity scams should not dissuade anyone from giving freely to help those in need. The best way to avoid scams is to use common sense.

The first rule of thumb is to do your homework. If a charity calls and solicits funds, check it out. Non-profit organizations must register with the Federal Government and these charities will be listed on government websites. If you cannot find any information on a charity, then it is time to be suspicious.

Another good idea is to make a charity do a written request for funds. Within this letter, you can have the charity specify what its organization is all about and what it will do with funds donated to its cause once they are made available. Creating extra work like that for a scammer can make them move onto their next “mark.”

Never ever make cash donations. Always donate through a check or credit card. Banks and credit card companies typically have safeguards in place to help prevent and prosecute fraud. Paying cash allows a scam artist to simply disappear and take your hard-earned money with them.

Finally, make sure the charity contacting you is a known organization. If they claim to represent a particular group, such as firefighters, or a particular cause, such as cancer, follow up on their claims. Contact the group they claim to represent and ask if they are affiliated with this charity. If it is connected to a particular cause, check with legitimate charities and ask if they are familiar with the organization in question.

Filed Under: Charities, Charity Scams Tagged With: , , , ,
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