SCAM AWARENESSCharity donation scams
Charity donation scams ask for money for a cause that is fake, or for a real cause that never sees your donation. They often appear after disasters, during the holidays, or around causes like veterans, police, firefighters, or sick children. Scammers count on your kindness and the feeling that you must help right now.
How this scam works
Scammers reach out by phone, text, email, social media, or door to door. They may use names that sound very close to well-known charities, or claim to support local first responders. Some say you already pledged and just need to pay. They tell moving stories and may show photos copied from news reports.
They press you to give immediately and ask for payment methods that are hard to trace or reverse, like cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. They may be vague about how the money will be used or refuse to send written information. Some falsely claim your gift is tax deductible. Your money goes to the scammer, and your contact details may be sold to other scammers.
What it can look like
EXAMPLE · NOT A REAL MESSAGEPhone call: "Hi, I'm calling for the Disaster Families Relief Fund. Families are sleeping outside tonight after the floods. Can we count on you for $100? We can take it right now with a gift card or wire, and you'll get a receipt for your taxes."
Warning signs
- Pressure to donate immediately, especially right after a disaster
- A name that sounds like a famous charity but is slightly different
- Requests for cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Thanks for a pledge or donation you do not remember making
- Vague answers about the charity's address, mission, or how money is used
- Refusal to send written information before you give
How to protect yourself
- Decide which charities you support ahead of time and give directly through their official websites.
- Search the charity's name with words like "complaint" or "scam" before giving.
- Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to check whether a group can receive tax-deductible donations.
- Ask callers for written information and how much of your gift goes to the program.
- Pay by credit card or check made out to the charity, never in cash, gift cards, wire, or crypto.
If you already responded
- If you paid by credit card, call the number on the back of your card and ask about disputing the charge.
- If you used a check, contact your bank about stopping payment if it has not cleared.
- For gift cards, contact the card company right away and report the fraud.
- If you gave personal or bank details, watch your accounts and consider IdentityTheft.gov steps.
- Report the scam to the FTC and to your state's charity regulator or attorney general.
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Where to report it
Common questions
How can I check if a charity is legitimate?
Look up the charity yourself instead of using links or numbers given to you. Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to see if it can receive tax-deductible gifts, check with your state's charity regulator, and search the name with words like "scam" or "complaint." Real charities will gladly send written information.
Are donations to disaster relief fundraisers safe?
Many are real, but disasters also attract scammers. Give to established organizations you already know, through their official websites. Be careful with new groups, social media posts, and urgent texts. Watch out for names that copy well-known charities and requests to pay by gift card, cash, wire, or cryptocurrency.
Is my donation to any charity tax deductible?
No. Only gifts to qualified organizations can be deducted, and other rules apply. Some scammers falsely say your gift is deductible. You can check an organization's status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. For questions about your own taxes, talk with a tax professional or check irs.gov.