By AMY HEBERT
FTC Consumer Education Specialist

There’s no shortage of good causes to donate to this holiday season. But before you give somewhere new, make sure you’re not donating to a scam.

Scammers are pros at tricking people into donating.

They’ll often even use names that sound a lot like other charities you’ve heard of to get your money. Here’s how to make sure your money is going to support the cause you care about:

Don’t be rushed or pressured into giving, especially over the phone. 

If it’s a request to donate on social media, take the time to make sure the person who shared it with you knows the organization or person fundraising..

Research the charity before you give. 

Search the name plus “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam.” Organizations like the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, or Candid also let you research charities.

Don’t trust your caller ID.

Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information. Calls can look like they come from your local area code, or from a specific organization, even if they don’t. In reality, the caller could be anywhere in the world..

Check out the charity’s website.

Does it give you details about the programs you want to support or how it uses donations? How much of your donation will go directly to support the programs you care about? If you can’t find detailed information about a charity’s mission and programs, be suspicious..

Pay attention to how you pay. 

If a charity asks you to pay with cryptocurrency, by wiring money through Western Union or MoneyGram, with a payment app, or with a gift card, it’s likely a scam. Donating by credit card or check is safer.

Learn more about avoiding charity scams at ftc.gov/charity.