Avoiding Charity Scams

Are they trying to scam me?

It is a question facing anyone who wants to donate money to a worthy cause, especially in our current state. Unfortunately, a stream of fake charities continuously pop up in the wake of national and international disasters to take advantage of good-hearted people who want to help. Reports of mismanaged charities and outright charity fraud often make the news and leave many people with doubts about which charities are legitimate and which ones are run only to help the scammers behind them.

Is the solution to stop giving?

No. In today's political climate when less and less government money is earmarked for assistance to the most vulnerable, it is critical for the public to financially support real charities which are doing good works around the world. It only takes a few extra minutes of time to ensure your money is going towards a real cause. Here are four things you can do to lower the risk of charity fraud next time you want to give back.

1. Utilize Charity Watchdog Groups

Before donating to any new charity, check the organization out at a charity watchdog website. These watchdogs can help you to separate official charities from potential scams. There are several watchdog groups online, and each one uses different criteria to rate charities. Watchdog groups do not cover every real charity in the U.S., so you may want to search on a couple of sites before making up your mind. Four of the most well-known and trusted charity watchdogs are:

• Charity Navigator
• CharityWatch
• BBB Wise Giving Alliance
• GuideStar

2. Always Donate via the Charity's Official Website

It is not unusual for a person to approach you on the street to solicit a donation for a well-known charity. Often the person is wearing a shirt from the organization and may even be distributing literature with the charity's name on it. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you are not dealing with a scammer.

In this situation, it is best to avoid giving directly and instead ask for the website of the charity so you can contribute online later. If the person is reluctant to provide the information or pressures you to donate immediately, it is most likely a scam.

Also, never follow a link from a social media post to donate. Many scammers create links to spoof websites which resemble the real charity's site to fool people into contributing.

3. Confirm They're Doing What They Say They're Going to Do

Many worthwhile local charities won't appear on any watchdog safelists because they are just too small to monitor. That doesn't automatically mean that are not real charities or that you should not support them. However, before giving money to any local charity which is not on a watchdog safe list, do yourself a favor and double with the people the charity claims to be helping. Besides making sure the charity is legitimate, you may discover that bypassing the charity and donating directly to the local organization is the better option.

4. Verify the Charity's Nonprofit Status

Donating money to a worthy cause is a great way to assist other people in need, but it can also help reduce your tax bill. When you contribute to a nonprofit charity which is registered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, you can write off your contribution. However, be careful. Some scammers will tell you that donations to their organization are tax-deductible even when they are not, resulting in a situation that may cause trouble when you try to take deductions on your taxes. You can find out more about which types of donations are tax-deductible by contacting the IRS directly.

To verify the 501(c)(3) status of any charity in the US, use the Tax Exempt Organization Search tool on the IRS website.

With a little additional effort, you can prevent scammers from profiting by exploiting your goodwill.

This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information, and provided by ANCHORY LLC. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.

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