Choosing a Charity? 4 Ways to Slip Past Swindlers
Saturday, February 9, 2019, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
Having the financial stability that allows you to donate to a charity is a wonderful thing.
No matter what your motivations for donating are, it’s important to know who you’re donating money to and what they’re going to do with your donation.
Unfortunately, a lot of organizations are eager to exploit those good intentions in order to maximize their personal gain.
Here are a few ways to minimize your chance of falling prey to a scam.
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Beware of Imposters
Some charities bear many similarities to other trustworthy charities, including the actual names of the organizations. They do this to give their donors a false sense of security, and they mean to trick people into thinking they’re something they’re not. If the charity bears a name similar to another existing charity, you should be wary of their intentions.
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Only Give to the Best
Fortunately, most charities aren’t out to get you. The majority of legitimate charities will be forthcoming when asked for their names, phone numbers, and addresses. Furthermore, their legitimacy can be verified by checking a national database of known charities. If the charity is claiming to support a particular movement or organization, get in contact with that movement to confirm that the charity is actually doing what it claims to do. If the people working at the charity are being truthful, this process should be very straightforward.
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Don’t Give In to Pressure
Charity impersonation is not the only form of scam that can occur when you’re looking to donate to an organization. Some unscrupulous organizations will pressure you into making donations, demand cash donations, and require more personal information than they really need. If the individual that you are in contact with is apprehensive or reluctant to answer your questions, they may not be working in your best interests.
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Maintain Communication
This last tip falls in line with the rest of the suggestions outlined here. Knowing who you’re donating to and having a clear understanding of their moral character plays an important role in your decision to donate. Unfortunately, some organizations choose to present themselves differently until they receive your donation. Maintaining regular contact with the organization of your choosing is a great way to ensure that your donation money is being put to good use. It never hurts to periodically ask for an update on how your donation has impacted the charity.
You can mitigate the risk of falling prey to a charity scam by being vigilant and aware when talking to representatives of the charitable organization. Also, if you have experienced fraud already, you should pursue legal action immediately. (If you need financial assistance for filing suit, seek out a reputable lawsuit funding company.) Many people have been scammed due to fraud, but the chances of this happening to you can be minimized with vigilance and quick action.
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